Ten thousand years later.
Inside the forging shop.
Su Wen lounged lazily in the sunlight, no different than before. He hadn't stayed long ten thousand years ago—if he dawdled, Qian Renxue would hunt him down. Back then, it wasn't a problem a meal or two could fix anymore. Who knew how long he would have been pressed into service?
"Hey, Da Ming and Er Ming sent a letter..."
The inner forging room's door opened, Gu Yue emerged stretching, tossing Su Wen a letter.
Pah~
Su Wen didn't even move his body. He casually raised his hand, caught the letter, opened it, and glanced at its contents. A smile emerged on his face.
"Looks like they bought it."
"Why wouldn't they? I didn't betray even a hint of a flaw. At most, I just kept them waiting a few months for a reply—just making them stew for a while. Felt good to vent." Gu Yue huffed, grabbing a random fruit and taking a fierce bite.
"Gu Yue, that was for Daddy… I just finished peeling it." Na'er gently pressed Su Wen's arm, frowning slightly at Gu Yue's rude behavior.
Gu Yue: "…"
Really?
I'm an outsider now?
"Dad worked hard all day, how could you…"
Seeing Na'er's accusing tone, Gu Yue's face twisted in frustration. She bared her teeth and finally couldn't hold back: "But I saw him lying in that chair all day! I even made a special trip to fetch that letter! What exactly has he been busy with?"
"Dad oversees everything. Isn't that real mental work?" Na'er declared with hands on hips.
"My brain…" Gu Yue's lips twitched. She truly had nothing to say.
It was her own world-shaking wisdom that had gotten her so battered previously.
"Can't mess with you, can't mess with you…"
Grumbling, Gu Yue retreated further into the house.
"And there's another Level Three Mecha Comprehensive Training next week… I'm going to die of exhaustion ahhh…"
The door closed.
Su Wen's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Time to lure those two guys out for a "blood donation." Pure Titan Giant Ape essence blood was priceless to the Yuanen Clan—perfect for drawing them in. As for the Azure Bull Python… slay it. It didn't seem to have any useful value.
"Yuanen Yehui." Su Wen said softly.
Outside the door, a sneaky shadow froze in place, turning around awkwardly, one hand behind her back. "Haha, boss… good morning…"
"Heard you failed the last monthly exam?"
Su Wen sipped his tea blandly, his tone inscrutable.
Behind him, Na'er looked on with a look of helpless sympathy at Yuanen Yehui, silently indicating that Dad was strict—she couldn't help this time.
Through a secret gap in the door, Gu Yue rolled her eyes. I just created an opening for you! While I was talking to the old man and distracting him, you should have slipped in! Now… it's too late…
"Um… yeah, the test was just too tough…" Yuanen Yehui fidgeted, head bowed.
"Gu Yue just barely passed?" Su Wen pressed.
Inside, Gu Yue's silver eyes widened. Wait—how does he know my results too?!
"You two are here because I pulled strings to get you into Class One."
"The homeroom teacher has my contact info."
Su Wen's expression didn't budge. He tapped his soul communicator, projecting a list of names alongside comprehensive scores for mecha manufacturing, maintenance, and design.
Na'er ranked first, top of all three.
Gu Yue was seventeenth—the gap was severe; she'd tanked mecha maintenance.
Yuanen Yehui… thirty-seventh!
Failed two subjects!
"Special training for you both. Too stupid…" Su Wen sighed helplessly.
Gu Yue and Yuanen Yehui blanched, moaning miserably.
They'd lived through Su Wen's special training before.
Mental and physical, dual torture.
Yuanen Yehui looked positively wilted, each step to the forging room heavy with dread.
Suddenly Su Wen added, "Right—come out with me tonight."
"Where to?" Yuanen Yehui was surprised.
"At your current pace, you'll make Titled Douluo status in the Year of the Monkey. I'll help speed things up. And there's the Academy Contest with Shrek next week, right? You signed up?"
"But Shrek bans battle armor…"
"Mm," Su Wen replied lightly.
It was basically targeting Yuanen Yehui outright. After all, among the lower grades, everyone was at "Soul Elder" and "Soul Sect" levels—who had battle armor?
Only Yuanen Yehui, as a Fallen Angel, had used her armor to beat the Angel Clan's heir, igniting a scandal.
"…"
The girl froze. She'd never thought her little "peanut-sized" matters would get his attention…
Before, she had always been invisible, just glad not to be hated.
"Thank you."
She nodded quietly. "I'll work hard…"
Su Wen basked in his chair, sighing inwardly. Guess he'd have to use cattle feed for motivation later…
Soon, a stunning beauty appeared overhead, smiling down with hands behind her back and eyes bright with shifting colors.
Old married couple—often just a glance would convey everything.
Su Wen shook his head.
Gu Yuena did the same.
Su Wen closed his eyes, nodding slightly.
Only then did Gu Yuena curl up a delicate smile, grasping something in her hand.
She gazed downward towards a world filled with life and vitality.
"Hiss…"
Su Wen stared aimlessly as Gu Yuena performed her latest "special technique." Who knew how much time passed before she lifted her head with a knowing glance, cheeks puffed like a hamster.
With a flick of her slender white hand, a protective barrier sealed the room.
Inside, Gu Yue groaned internally. She sensed invisible ripples—the solution to the big problem on her mecha-building textbook vanished right from her mind.
"Damn it! Are men really that much fun?" she gritted her teeth.
She stalked over and slammed the door.
Glancing at Na'er, who was quietly reading, she asked, "Aren't you going to do something about them…?"
"Isn't being a carefree kid good enough?" Na'er blinked her big eyes. "Why always so anxious?"
"Or… are you jealous of her?" Na'er asked, teasingly.
"Wh-who's jealous of her?!" Gu Yue huffed. "She just got lucky, ran into Su Wen who became Dragon God and gained a realm of his own. Maybe she'll advance to full Dragon God, restore her strength, lead the dragon race… Whatever."
"Why would I be jealous?" Gu Yue's voice rose, as if trying to convince herself.
Na'er: "…"
Not jealous?
How do you know all that off by heart, then?
Oh, forget it…
Na'er rolled her eyes and returned to her book.
That night.
Click~
Yuanen Yehui, in her bear pajamas, squinted against the harsh lights. "Mmm… Gu Yue?!"
It was only after her vision cleared that she saw Gu Yue, fully dressed in academy uniform, looking calm and waiting for her.
"Come on, don't sleep in..."
Yuanen Yehui blearily dressed, following Gu Yue to the underground training ground.
Su Wen still looked as lazy as ever.
"You're here? Let's go…"
"Where to?" It took a moment for Yuanen Yehui to remember Su Wen's words from earlier—but she'd been busy running around all day and had dropped into an exhausted sleep.
Snap—
Su Wen snapped his fingers.
A dark fog slowly billowed up, a tall figure stepping out, clad in golden battle armor and a black skirt, golden eyes blazing.
His former kingly aura had transformed into that of a mighty guardian commander.
While Yuanen Yehui was frozen in awe, the armored figure dropped to one knee before Su Wen. "My lord!"
"Eh~"
Yuanen Yehui had to stifle a gasp, eyes wide with amazement and a thrill she couldn't hide.
She knew the boss wasn't simple!
Wait—what are they going to do in the dead of night?
No way…
"Let's go," Su Wen nodded.
The Black-Gold-armored man bowed low. "As you command." With a flourish, he produced a heroic battle flag and swung it wide, enveloping everyone.
Yuanen Yehui felt as if she was flying on clouds. When her feet finally touched "ground," they nearly gave out—she was standing high in the sky above Shrek City, which was outlined below. Looking down, a humongous black-scaled dragon radiated overwhelming draconic might—a legendary aura swirling off the armored hide.
"Gu Yue?" The girl whispered tremulously.
Gu Yue sat serenely atop the dragon's head, beckoning for her to come over.
"This black dragon is…?"
"Di Tian. You must have heard of him," Gu Yue replied nonchalantly, sneaking a popsicle out of her pocket and licking it.
"Di Tian..."
Yuanen Yehui froze.
The very name petrified her blood.
She mouthed, nearly in tears, "Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King? Di Tian?!"
The Beast God!
A living legend—said to be unkillable. In the last few decades, only a handful of top Spirit Pagoda experts had dared surround him; few who saw his true form ever returned.
Now—she was standing ON Di Tian's head?!
Even scarier—the king of the Star Dou Great Forest, above gods themselves, answered Su Wen's call and let them ride him…
For dragons, pride is supreme. Unless utterly conquered, they'd never serve as mounts.
Just who was the boss?!
Could he be another soul beast overlord hidden among humans?
Was she about to become an infamous "traitor" to humankind?
She could already see her capture broadcast on every channel—Yuanen Yehui the traitor, betraying the Federation...
Her family would never forgive her.
"Overthinking," Su Wen saw clear through her. He patted her head, "I'm human."
"I wouldn't pick you for undercover anyway. Four subjects, two failed, another barely passed—at your level, you'd be caught the next day."
"Oh! That's good…," she replied sheepishly.
So long as she didn't have to do anything to ruin her reputation, she could take whatever hardship was thrown her way.
But today, the boss said he would help her…
"Haha, didn't expect anyone in this era to remember me…"
A deep, booming voice echoed below.
"You just lived a long time," Gu Yue snarked, letting the wind blow her silver hair wild. "And you're famous."
"Your essence blood gets hung right inside Shrek Academy's new student test hall—anyone who wants to pass has to withstand your pressure first..." Su Wen grinned.
"What an honor..." Di Tian replied.
"This 'Shrek' isn't that other 'Shrek.'"
Su Wen shook his head. "Not interested."
"…"
Di Tian was silent.
This was his first visit to this era, but it was clear the master didn't like the current Shrek—so be it.
Suddenly—
"Warning! Warning!"
"If you don't land within three minutes—"
A harsh siren blared across the sky.
Countless mechas erupted from all corners of Shrek City, most purple, a few black leading them, surrounding Di Tian in an instant.
"What strange things…" Di Tian marveled, "Human ingenuity is terrifying."
"What a huge black dragon!"
Wingspread, the black dragon was nearly a kilometer long, blocking out the very sky.
Qiangu Lincheng's shock mixed with fear—this was powerful energy, but letting an unknown dragon fly over...
Di Tian?
Didn't seem right... He'd seen images passed down by his father—but this dragon was far larger, far stronger.
"Get high-altitude images! There's someone on the dragon's head!"
A voice crackled over the comm channel.
"Send it to me." Qiangu Lincheng gulped.
Someone standing atop a dragon implied the beast was a mount—what kind of monster could do that?
Wait!
His hands trembling, he viewed the transmitted image.
Several figures stood or sat.
In front—one radiated an unmistakable, glowing presence: a white figure.
"Oh, crap!!"
Qiangu Lincheng shut his eyes in despair.
Should've guessed it…
"What do we do?"
Yuanen Yehui was in turmoil.
Were they about to start a fight?
This was Shrek City—a gathering of the continent's top human experts. If it broke out…
"My lord?"
Di Tian inquired softly.
"No need."
Su Wen eyed a sleek, black mecha approaching in the distance. He nodded slightly.
It immediately retreated in a panic, leading its troops to scatter.
More like fleeing.
Yuanen Yehui: ???
Pah~
Oww…
Yuanen Yehui rubbed her head, glaring at Su Wen—then her gaze lowered in embarrassment. This man was way stronger than she'd imagined—best not to provoke him.
"Don't speak for a while," Su Wen instructed, still looking to the sky.
"Oh, oh…"
...