Azure Luan's natural healing and support abilities made her like a gentle, attentive maid who always shielded you from behind. She wasn't noticeable most of the time, but at the critical moment, she could step forward and take responsibility.
You could say she was an ultra version of a maid—just one step away from feeding you by hand. That all-encompassing, pervasive care was truly irresistible.
"Congratulations..."
Snow Empress offered a gentle smile.
Gu Yuena arched her brow. She knew that, in the future, there'd likely be another competitor for Su Wen's affections, but she didn't mind—Su Wen was good at time management, and as long as she herself didn't go hungry, it was fine.
At the very least—the Silver Dragon King couldn't be neglected.
"Congratulations, Azure Luan..."
"Lady Silver Dragon King..." Azure Luan nodded lightly and smiled back amicably. She wasn't one for competing, but with her status, few would dare compete with her anyway.
"That's enough for today."
Snow Empress's voice was soft.
"Azure Luan has succeeded in transforming. There's nothing to worry about anymore."
For everyone else, Azure Luan's change wasn't exactly worrying—most had just come to watch the excitement. Now seeing her transformed into such a peerless beauty—on par with the Silver Dragon King and Snow Empress—everyone was satisfied.
"Alright, I'm leaving too..."
The contracted beasts dispersed, each returning to their own world inside their "Poke Balls."
Gu Yuena stretched lazily, deliberately showing off her figure in front of the crowd. She'd had Su Wen all to herself for ten thousand years, and now with her fill, she had no appetite left.
"I'm off. Welcome, Azure Luan—you're new at this!" Gu Yuena waved playfully before vanishing.
Azure Luan's face turned pink. She knew precisely what Gu Yuena meant.
"In that case, I'll leave you two alone as well."
Snow Empress glanced back at the pair and whispered as she left—breath warm and fragrant against Su Wen's ear. Her meaning was clear: "Come find me tonight."
On the bed, she was one of the few who had unlocked the "Mama" title with Su Wen.
Even Gu Yuena didn't know; she thought Snow Empress was just asking if Su Wen's "legs were numb" when they'd stood so long at the bedside.
By the tranquil lakeside, beneath the ancient tree's dense, sky-shading branches, the goddess worshiped by countless spirits now blushed as she gazed intently at the Su Wen cradled in her arms, unabashedly admiring his features.
"Lord... do you really like calling Snow Empress 'Mama'?"
"It was... an accident, honestly," Su Wen replied, stretching in the comforting embrace, mouth holding a purple grape.
"Then... what about me?" Azure Luan spoke quietly.
Su Wen: "Cough, cough, cough..."
Shrek Academy.
Inner courtyard.
"I soloed the Mingdou Mountain Range dungeon today—finally, finally cleared it!"
"Oh, tell us more..."
"Cleared it with no injuries? The Mingdou dungeon is the only high-level encounter inner courtyard students can access, and it's notoriously difficult. Even many seniors can't clear it unscathed—how did you do it?"
Outside the simulation training room, a crowd of students gathered, chattering enthusiastically.
Ever since the Evil Spirit Master simulation was added, everyone had been grinding dungeons non-stop, earning rewards and improving their strength. The Mingdou Mountain Range, a dungeon with great early rewards and a high degree of difficulty, was a hurdle for many.
At first, people just figured out the enemies were only level-five Evil Spirit Masters and tried corpse explosion techniques and group runs.
They'd wound the Evil Spirit Masters in the cave, leaving them barely alive, and then move forward.
But the results were disappointing. The cave's Spirit King-level Evil Spirit Masters were cautious, never fighting head-on, and would detonate the corpses, causing anyone with low health to die in chain explosions.
The best they managed was a pyrrhic victory, and scores were poor.
Later, some tried luring the boss out for a focused kill, but it took so long it exceeded the time limit. According to the rules, they still had to participate in the tournament.
Scores were still bad.
Eventually, even a group of Soul Sage students tried to break the scenario, only to trigger the second phase, with the Evil Spirit Master blowing up all their minions—they still suffered heavy casualties.
Until now...
"Heh, you just didn't trigger the hidden easter egg," the successful student said mysteriously.
"This dungeon wasn't meant to be cleared solo—you're supposed to call backup! You all died too quickly and didn't notice NPC Teacher Wang Yan's hints... I went back and researched the plot. It's based on Elder Xuan leading his disciples to the tournament, so Elder Xuan should be right outside the cave."
"Crack Elder Xuan, and it's all good."
"Elder Xuan outside the cave? No wonder after every failure, I'd hear a furious roar, but the screen would go black and I couldn't see what happened. So it was Elder Xuan..."
"Wait—that's not fair. If Elder Xuan was right there, why would he just watch us get blown up?"
"..."
"He was just too bad at his job," the student said gleefully, still immersed in the joy of his big reward. "If it had been anyone else, I'd doubt it, but Elder Xuan being unreliable is well-known around here!"
"That's true."
The students nodded.
But then, a great shadow fell over the group. When the successful one shivered and finally realized something was wrong, he was kicked flying straight into a tree, leaving a clear body-shaped dent before passing out.
(Uncle version) Xuan Zi looked around and snorted coldly.
This damned brat...
He'd been nailed to the pillar of shame!
Damn it, he'd be famous for this for all eternity.
Every time a student took a simulation exam, they'd run into this scenario.
Damn...
Even now that the Spirit Hall was almost wiped out, with Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao dead and the Evil Spirit Masters nearly gone, he still couldn't escape this humiliation?
Sea God Pavilion.
Su Wen lounged in his chair, with Nana reporting to him on recent events.
The Sun-Moon Empire was getting bolder, constantly provoking Shrek Academy by sending troops over the Mingdou Mountains to rampage through Star Luo Empire territory.
And in the Sun-Moon Empire itself, the call to counterattack was rising higher each day.
Time to settle the score.
A cold gleam flashed in Su Wen's eyes.
He still hadn't forgotten what happened, being ambushed all those years ago at the Sun-Moon Empire's Royal Academy.
Now that Spirit Hall was almost exterminated, it was time for the rest to pay.
Everyone knew Star Luo Empire was already bowing before Shrek. The other two nations—Dou Ling Empire remained cautious, a fence-sitter watching the situation. The Heavenly Soul Empire, after Dudu's self-destruction, had its main force crippled, left with no strong leadership, and was now on the verge of collapse.
Angel Hall alone remained lively, maintaining good relations with Shrek Academy. They'd even sent Ye Guyi to study at the inner courtyard...
"You! I demand an explanation!"
A figure burst in.
Xuan Zi bared his teeth at Su Wen, who continued to lounge comfortably in his chair, "What's up with that Evil Spirit Master simulation assessment? Why'd you have to include me?"
Su Wen gazed at Xuan Zi, taking a slow sip of tea.
"Xuan Zi, I'm the one responsible for Shrek Academy's return to greatness."
Xuan Zi: ...?
"I've been working hard everywhere, building networks until even the soul beast clans acknowledge me... Facing all sorts of deadly schemes, walking on eggshells the whole time."
Xuan Zi's eye twitched. So what are you trying to say?
"You just barge into my office demanding favors—with no respect at all."
"Su Wen..." Xuan Zi swallowed.
"And you won't even call me 'Pavilion Master'." Su Wen exhaled a curl of white steam, looking at Xuan Zi with an arched brow.
Xuan Zi: "..."