Inside the space of the Spirit Ascension Platform, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadows on the ground.
Wang Dong'er leaned against a large tree, panting slightly. Her small face showed a hint of exhaustion, but more so, a smile.
"I can't go on, I can't go on." She waved her hand, her tone carrying a touch of helplessness. "I feel like my body can't handle any more energy."
Wang Dong'er's third and fourth Spirit Rings were essentially provided by the Golden Radiance Moon Butterfly. Now, her fourth Spirit Ring had reached the ten-thousand-year level, and her other three Spirit Rings had also reached about nine thousand years, nearly the ten-thousand-year limit.
Wang Dong'er's Golden Radiance Moon Butterfly Spirit Soul could already be summoned as a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast, which was quite domineering to think about. However... in battles of this level, integrating the Golden Radiance Moon Butterfly into herself still provided a greater boost.
In just a few short hours, Wang Dong'er felt she had become several times stronger, feeling quite satisfied.
"Me too, my body has reached its limit." Xiao Xiao nodded.
Her situation was similar; both of her twin spirits had one ten-thousand-year ring and two thousand-year rings, and her body's physical tolerance was based on a single Spirit's capacity.
Of course, Xiao Xiao's overall Spirit Ring years were still slightly weaker than Wang Dong'er's, as there were inherent gaps in their Mental Force and physical constitution.
Even before entering this academy, Wang Dong'er's second Spirit Ring was already at the thousand-year level.
"If only I had a few more golden pearls." Wang Dong'er suddenly lamented. "If I could raise my Mental Force a bit more, maybe I could get another ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring."
Looking at Xiao Xiao's twin spirits, a flash of envy crossed Wang Dong'er's eyes. She had originally planned to attach Spirit Rings to her Clear Sky Hammer as well, but after entering the intermediate Spirit Ascension Platform, she didn't have enough Soul Beast Tower Contribution Points.
Sure enough, Contribution Points were quite hard to save up but incredibly easy to spend; difficulties were everywhere.
Wang Dong'er's gaze fell upon Huo Yuhao.
"Huo Yuhao, what about you?" Wang Dong'er asked. "Can you still absorb more?"
Huo Yuhao closed his eyes, sensing the condition inside his body. "I still can."
His First Spirit Ring was a million-year one, so he didn't need to worry about it. As for now, Huo Yuhao's second and third Spirit Rings had both broken through to the ten-thousand-year level.
"I can still absorb a bit more."
Hearing this, Wang Dong'er's pinkish-blue eyes widened into circles.
"You can still absorb more?!" She sized Huo Yuhao up and down, her gaze as if she were looking at some rare artifact. "Huo Yuhao, have you been spending too much time with that guy Tang Wulin? How are you becoming more and more of a freak?"
Huo Yuhao felt a bit embarrassed by her stare and scratched his head. "I wouldn't say that..."
"Don't 'wouldn't say that' me! You already have three ten-thousand-year Spirit Rings!" Huo Yuhao's First Spirit Ring had been disguised by the Skydream Ice Worm to look like a ten-thousand-year Spirit Ring.
Xiao Xiao covered her mouth and chuckled from the side. Huo Yuhao smiled helplessly and didn't argue.
"Fine, fine." Wang Dong'er waved her hand. "Since you can still absorb, we'll help you for a while longer. But for the next batch of energy, you absorb it all yourself. Don't share it with us; we really can't handle any more."
Huo Yuhao was slightly stunned, and a surge of warmth then rose in his heart.
"Okay." He nodded, looking at Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao. "Thank you."
"We're on the same team." Xiao Xiao nodded with a smile. "Exactly, no need for formalities."
Wang Dong'er stood up and brushed the grass off her clothes, a light flashing in her pinkish-blue eyes. "I'm still thinking about defeating Tang Wulin and taking first place. A full set of hundred-thousand-year soul bones... I want them so badly. I bet some Limit Douluos don't even have a full set, right?"
This was natural, as Spirit Bones were already scarce, let alone hundred-thousand-year ones.
They weren't without a chance to defeat Tang Wulin. After all, the Golden Road Martial Soul Fusion Skill between Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er was also extremely powerful. It should work against Tang Wulin, but that move had a fatal flaw—its direction was too singular.
Once released, if the opponent dodged it, it would be a total failure. Moreover, after using it, they would be exhausted and lose their combat capability immediately.
Therefore, it had to be released at the most appropriate timing and in the most reliable way.
Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, temporarily suppressing these thoughts.
Now was not the time to think about that. He needed to improve his strength first.
"Let's go." He looked at Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao. "Continue."
...
In the Sea of Consciousness, the Skydream Ice Worm was leisurely humming a little tune.
Huo Yuhao's voice rang out in the Sea of Consciousness. "Brother Tianmeng, I have an idea."
"Hmm? Let's hear it."
"If I give all the energy I obtain to you, can you store it and then upgrade the years of my First Spirit Ring all at once?" Huo Yuhao paused. "Maybe we could make a First Spirit Ring of over a million years?"
Hearing this, the Skydream Ice Worm's small eyes blinked. Then, he laughed.
"Little Yuhao, oh Little Yuhao, you certainly have quite the imagination. But it won't work."
"Why?"
"Because your upper limit of endurance hasn't changed." The Skydream Ice Worm explained. "Although I've sealed my own Spirit Ring energy, there are limits. If I could become a Spirit Soul, it might be possible, like your Spirit Eye Giant Ape that can level up. But right now, I'm just an intelligent Spirit Ring; I can't do it. I've already reached my limit."
Huo Yuhao felt a slight pang of disappointment upon hearing this. He had originally thought about finding a loophole to save up more energy, but it seemed that wouldn't work. However, he quickly adjusted his mindset.
"Let's go." Huo Yuhao spoke.
The three figures disappeared back into the forest.
...
Half an hour later.
Huo Yuhao stopped in his tracks, feeling the abundant power within his body, and let out a long breath.
He had reached the limit. Now, his second Spirit Ring was at twelve thousand years and his third Spirit Ring was at fifteen thousand years. If he weren't in this academy, Huo Yuhao might have chosen to risk absorbing more, as obtaining resources usually required risking one's life.
But... in this academy, he didn't need to do that because they provided so many resources; he only needed to obtain as much as his limit allowed without taking excessive life-threatening risks.
Although he lacked some of that sharp edge from risking his life, he preserved his life. After all, not everyone was a favored one; those who were not favored and yet risked their lives would often end up turning into ash in the end.
Where else in the world could one find an academy this good?
Huo Yuhao was very clear about this, so he was quite grateful to the academy for giving him such an opportunity to develop himself.
"It's enough." He opened his eyes and looked at Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao. "I've reached my limit too."
Wang Dong'er let out a long sigh of relief. "It's finally over."
The three of them rested for a moment and then stood up simultaneously.
"Let's go, time to head out." Wang Dong'er said.
Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao nodded.
With a thought, their three figures slowly dissipated within the Spirit Ascension Platform.
...
Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, the silver-white building stood quietly.
The lids of three virtual pods slid open almost simultaneously, and Wang Dong'er, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao sat up one after another.
Wang Dong'er gave a big stretch, a satisfied smile on her small face. "That was so refreshing."
Wang Dong'er stepped out of the virtual pod, feeling her entire being filled with energy. Three days, three more days; she couldn't help but repeat the number in her head.
"Three days from now, we have to do our best!" Wang Dong'er looked at the two and said with a smile.
"Yeah!" Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao nodded, and then they went their separate ways.
...
Meanwhile, in the Dean's Office.
[Detected that the child of destiny Huo Yuhao's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Space-Time Shuttle]
[Detected that the key character Wang Dong'er's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Teacher — Leng Yaozhu (Heavenly Phoenix Douluo, Level 99 Limit Douluo, Demi-God, Four-Word Battle Armor Master)]
[Detected that the key character Xiao Xiao's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Teacher — Mang Tian (Strength increased to Spirit Douluo, Rank 7 Blacksmith)]
[Detected that the key character Ling Luochen's recognition of 'Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy' has increased!]
[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the reward: Special Student — Long Chen (Five-Ring Soul King, Spirit: Bright Sacred Dragon)]
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A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
2 Reviews = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Leave a review if you like the story. Thank you.