Oscar's eyes lit up with envy he couldn't hide."Boss Dai… you really have it good. If only I had someone to send me pills too."
Ma Hongjun sighed deeply beside him. "Yeah… even one or two a month would help…"
Shrek Academy was strict, but poor. The academy did not—and could not—supply precious medicinal baths, herbs, or pills to strengthen a student's physique.Oscar and Hongjun had always known this… but seeing Dai Mubai enjoy such luxuries still pricked their hearts.
Dai Mubai paused, considering."It's not impossible." His tone became thoughtful. "If I talk to He Cai properly, you two might get a batch. He's loyal to me, and he handles the resources."
Oscar and Hongjun immediately straightened, eyes gleaming with hope.
"Boss Dai, you're amazing!""Thank you, Boss! If this works, we'll owe you big!"
Dai Mubai chuckled and waved them off."Haha, no need. Just work hard and don't embarrass me."
Ma Hongjun grinned wickedly, leaning closer."After that, Boss… we can go there, right?"
Oscar's face flushed red at once."I—I said it last time, Hongjun! That place is definitely not— not appropriate for decent people!"
Dai Mubai burst into laughter, hooking an arm around both of their shoulders."Hahaha! Oscar, you're too innocent. You should come with us just once. Only then will you truly understand the wonders of the world."
Oscar coughed and looked away, ears turning pink—but he didn't say no that time.
Together, the three walked toward the Shrek Academy gate.Dai Mubai swaggered confidently, Oscar followed with nervous anticipation, and Hongjun practically vibrated with excitement.
Maybe if a certain Goddess thinks it is interesting, then these scums will be able to form the Shrek Seven Devils again in this timeline.
--
Heaven Dou City – Spirit Arena
The massive stadium trembled from the roar of thousands.
"Dragon God!""Dragon God! Dragon God!"
The audience's screams, surging like a tidal wave of fanatic devotion. Spectators rose from their seats, fists pumping in the air as they chanted the name that dominated today's fight.
On the central stage, under the glow of countless soul lamps, a young man stood tall.
Broad shoulders and refined muscles. A long azure tail flickering behind him like a phantom. Jagged scales crawled faintly up his arms, shimmering with draconic pressure. His dragon mask concealed half his face, but his presence alone made the crowd erupt.
He raised both hands arrogantly, drinking in the adoration as if it were his birthright.
Yu Ming. The one the arena worshipped as "Dragon God." His pseudonym in the Spirit arena was Dragon God
Many people knew his original identity and no one with ill motives wanted to mess with the young master of Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan.
Behind him, six soul rings circled his body—yellow, purple, purple, purple-black, black, black—a terrifying configuration for someone so young.
His martial soul—Azure Dragon—radiated pure dominance. It seemed as if every step he took made the floor groan as if bowing to an ancient king.
Across the ring, another young man knelt on one knee, teeth clenched as an invisible weight pressed down on him. His chest heaved, sweat dripping down his jaw under a menacing dog-shaped mask.
His hair blazed orange-red, and faint fur-like patterns crawled across his arms—features unlocked by his martial soul possession. His amber eyes glowed like a furious hound resisting submission.
Lu Ping., who was also Soul Emperor…and his soul ring configuration was not weaker .... yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black— but right now, that didn't matter.
Yu Ming's aura was crushing him.
The arena screens flashed the comparison:
Yu Ming – Azure Dragon – Level 63 Soul EmperorLu Ping – Hellhound – Level 61 Soul Emperor
Yet the gap between them felt like a chasm.
Yu Ming tilted his head, watching Lu Ping struggle, a faint smile curling beneath his mask.
"I must admit," he said, his voice calm but dripping with superiority, "I didn't expect a civilian soul master to reach this level."
Lu Ping snarled, but his body refused to rise.
Yu Ming continued leisurely, pacing in a slow circle around him."But this era…" He tapped his mask, eyes narrowing with amusement. "This is an era where countless people have danced on the edge of death."
He was referring, of course, to the soul beast tide—the catastrophe that forced even weak soul masters to fight, evolve, and awaken dormant potential just to survive.
"Under such desperate circumstances," Yu Ming said, spreading his arms, "it's not unexpected that one or two… sprouts, shall we say… manage to shoot toward the sky."
Under the overwhelming weight of Yu Ming's Azure Dragon pressure, Lu Ping's knee shook—but he refused to fall entirely.
"Oh? It seems you still have some spine left," Yu Ming murmured, raising one hand. Azure scales spread over his arm, soul power crackling like thunder. "Very well. Stand up… if you can. Let me see how high a civilian 'sprout' can climb."
Lu Ping's muscles bulged violently, veins throbbing as he forced his knee off the ground—
----
Spectator Area – VIP Lounge
The luxurious VIP room overlooked the entire arena through a sound-isolated glass panel. The cheers of "Dragon God! Dragon God!" vibrated faintly through the walls, but inside, the atmosphere was tense.
Manager Wang sat forward in his cushioned chair, hands clasped, eyes locked on the stage below. His secretary stood to the side, face pale.
"Manager… putting that much money on Dragon God's opponent was a huge mistake," the secretary said nervously. "Lu Ping is already being suppressed. Just look at him—he can barely stand…"