Unknowingly, dusk had already fallen.
The Royal Battle Team had just completed their training. Yufeng had assumed that Qi Lin had already returned, but when he turned his head—
Good heavens, Teacher Qi Lin was still at the edge of the training field, engaged in an enthusiastic conversation with a voluptuous and striking woman.
Seeing their training complete, Qi Lin waved them over.
"Another one?" Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong muttered suspiciously before hurrying over.
After everyone gathered, Qi Lin introduced the woman—Liu Erlong.
At first, when the girls realized that this was the Liu Erlong of Blue Tyrant Academy, they showed her no courtesy whatsoever.
But Liu Erlong's bold and forthright personality quickly broke the ice, and before long, she was chatting comfortably with the girls.
Especially Xiao Wu—her character was nearly a mirror of Liu Erlong's. The two hit it off so well that they began calling each other sisters.
Qi Lin, watching from the side, was momentarily stunned.
If memory served, in the original story, Liu Erlong was Xiao Wu's godmother.
The group enjoyed a long, pleasant conversation. Only then did Liu Erlong prepare to leave.
Xiao Wu was visibly reluctant to part, while Liu Erlong, after a brief hesitation, approached Qi Lin and whispered a warning.
"Stay in Heaven Dou Academy for now. Whatever you do, don't go wandering around."
Qi Lin raised his brows slightly at her words.
Was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan planning to make a move on him?
Somehow, that idea made his blood stir with anticipation.
If that was the case, he might as well take a stroll around Heaven Dou City and see what excitement he could find.
After Liu Erlong left, she turned back to glance at Heaven Dou Academy and sighed deeply.
She knew the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan all too well. Now that her attempt to purchase the soul power training method had failed, they would surely twist the story—accusing Qi Lin of insulting the clan's honor.
Then, using that as an excuse, they'd try to teach him a lesson.
Given Qi Lin's current standing, with the support of Poison Douluo and close ties to both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the crown prince, the clan wouldn't dare kill him outright.
But sending someone to rough him up? That, they could do.
Although Liu Erlong was Yu Luomian's daughter, she had never been favored by the clan due to her mother's status. That was why she had taken her mother's surname, Liu.
Even if she wanted to help, there was little she could do to change the clan's course.
All she could hope for was that Qi Lin would take her warning to heart.
Otherwise…
There would be nothing she could do to stop what followed.
What she didn't know was that, if she hadn't given that final warning, Qi Lin might have remained quietly within the academy for some time.
But now? Now he was itching to stretch his limbs.
Hopefully, he'd bump into a few unlucky fools.
—
Back at the new Shrek Academy, Liu Erlong had just stepped through the gates when she ran into Flender and Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up the moment he saw her returning from outside the academy. He rushed up excitedly.
"Erlong, did you go to Heaven Dou Academy to see Qi Lin today?"
"Well? Did he give you the soul power training method?"
Yu Xiaogang had become obsessed with Qi Lin's training technique.
Ever since leaving Heaven Dou Academy, he had done extensive research and come to a startling conclusion—
Qi Lin's training method could significantly accelerate soul master cultivation.
What led Yu Xiaogang to this theory?
At first, Qi Lin and Xiao Wu's cultivation speeds were fast, but still within the bounds of what could be explained. They hadn't yet pulled ahead of Tang San, who also had innate full soul power.
But over time, the gap between them grew wider and wider.
Why?
Because Qi Lin and Xiao Wu had both mastered the soul power training method—while Tang San had not.
And that wasn't all.
Even Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, who joined Shrek later, were displaying abnormal cultivation speeds.
Zhu Zhuqing had started with only a level 7 innate soul power. Ning Rongrong, as an auxiliary-type soul master, should have had a slower cultivation speed than others with equivalent soul power.
But after learning the training method, both saw explosive growth.
In just three or four months, they had advanced two entire levels.
Was that normal?
Yu Xiaogang, after detailed observation, reached a firm conclusion and had already passed word to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan through Yu Tianheng.
He craved Qi Lin's training method—believing that with it, he might finally break through the barrier that had trapped him at rank 29 all these years.
As Yu Xiaogang spoke, his face was filled with urgency. Seeing this, Liu Erlong's heart sank.
She couldn't help but compare him to Qi Lin—and once she did, her disappointment grew heavier still.
"Yes," she said coolly. "I went to Heaven Dou Academy and met with Qi Lin."
"But I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. He didn't give me the training method."
Yu Xiaogang froze. "He really isn't afraid of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Liu Erlong shook her head. "Xiaogang, I spoke at length with Qi Lin today. He's an excellent young man. Whatever happened between the two of you, I think there may be some misunderstanding."
She was clearly trying to save his pride. After all, the feud between him and Qi Lin was entirely of his own making.
She went on gently, "Xiaogang, I think it's best to let this go. Inform Uncle as well—there's no need to make a move against Qi Lin."
"To turn such a small matter into a grudge with a genius like Qi Lin would be a grave mistake."
Yu Xiaogang stared at her in disbelief.
"Erlong, what kind of bewitching spell did that boy cast on you? You're actually defending him?"
"And what misunderstanding could possibly exist between us?"
"My downfall—it's all because of him!"
His voice rose sharply, attracting the attention of nearby students.
Flender hurriedly tugged on Yu Xiaogang's sleeve and whispered, "Xiaogang, the students are watching. Calm down."
Then he turned to Liu Erlong. "Erlong, let's talk somewhere else."
Liu Erlong nodded, but her eyes lingered on Yu Xiaogang with growing disappointment.
Now that the halo of admiration had shattered, all of Yu Xiaogang's flaws stood exposed before her.
Only now did she realize that the man she had once regarded as omnipotent… was just a bitter, self-absorbed fool.