Chapter 31: Escorting Zhu Zhuqing to School

"It's the middle of the night, can't you let people sleep?!"

From the room next door came Zhu Zhuqing's disgruntled voice. Shutting himself up quickly, Shen An looked at the fantastical item he had just obtained, his face filled with excitement.

He vividly remembered an episode where Tom transformed into Super Tom, donning a purple superhero suit with a green cape. The cat floated in mid-air, the sun shining behind it, eclipsed by Tom's divine aura.

That was originally just a dream sequence, but Shen An never imagined the system could manifest it in reality.

Though the suit's effect only lasted three minutes, given Super Tom's overwhelming strength, those three minutes would make Tom utterly invincible.

Shen An's initial goal for running the teahouse had been to lay low and bide his time. After all, the Douluo Continent was filled with powerful beings. It was a world where strength ruled, and Titled Douluos could kill at will without consequence.

In the original story, Tang San's survival was largely due to his father's protection; otherwise, he'd have met his end many times over.

"Can you fight? Big deal. Out here, what matters are connections and influence," Shen An thought.

His plan was to develop enough strength for self-preservation before wandering the continent, challenging the mighty, creating an unbeatable legend, and increasing his reputation points.

However, with the acquisition of the divine skill Sword Mastery and the emergence of the Super Tom suit, Shen An felt he might not need to stay in hiding anymore.

Used correctly, the Super Tom suit wouldn't just rival Titled Douluos—it could far surpass them.

Standing by the window, Shen An gazed at the horizon, as if trying to encompass the vast world beyond. At this moment, he felt as though his spine was made of steel.

With the break of dawn, a rich breakfast awaited. Rarely, Tom had woken up early to prepare a feast.

It was Zhu Zhuqing's departure day for Shrek Academy, and Tom, reluctant to part, had poured his heart into the meal.

Shen An walked out with dark circles under his eyes. The excitement from the previous night had kept him awake, staring at the Super Tom suit in his storage space and grinning like a fool.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him skeptically. "What was he doing last night, laughing like that? And now he looks like he's been up all night."

"Could he have been... at one of those places?" she wondered.

Seizing a moment as she helped Tom serve food, she subtly leaned closer to Shen An and took a sniff. No strange smells, only cleanliness.

They began their final meal together before the journey.

"I don't want to go to school. I wish this meal could last forever. Ugh, so annoying," Zhu Zhuqing thought, uncharacteristically wishing to avoid her studies.

Unfortunately, Tom's cooking was too good, and soon the plates were empty. Resigned, Zhu Zhuqing sighed as she slouched in her chair.

The group set off after breakfast, following Zhu Zhuqing, who, having been to Shrek Academy before, knew the way.

Not long after leaving Soto City, Tom collapsed in exhaustion, turning into a literal puddle of blue slime.

Only after Shen An agreed to carry him did Tom revert to his usual cat form and leap into Shen An's arms.

Shen An looked at the sight skeptically. "Can Tom really harness the power of the Super Tom suit? Or will he just turn into a lazy puddle of slime halfway through?"

Yes, this was very much like Tom.

Zhu Zhuqing, despite having seen Tom's various antics before, was still taken aback. "Is this cat even normal? Normal cats don't pull stunts like this."

After a while, the small village that housed Shrek Academy came into view. A group of people was gathered at the village entrance, surrounded by wooden fences.

"Is that Shrek Academy up ahead? It's really out in the sticks," Shen An commented.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded but wondered inwardly, "The academy is supposedly famous for only accepting geniuses. But can a place in a village like this really provide a good training environment?"

The two reached the village quickly. At the entrance stood a crowd of teenagers, most accompanied by their parents, much like parents dropping their children off at school in Shen An's past life.

In the center of the group was a table, behind which sat an elderly man with graying hair. Nearby was a rickety wooden arch with a tattered signboard that read, Shrek Academy.

Both the signboard and the old man's chest bore a green badge with the image of a small, adorable monster.

Shen An silently observed the scene. He had heard the academy was shabby, but this was beyond his expectations. Could this place really teach Zhu Zhuqing anything worthwhile?

Even Zhu Zhuqing, who had been here before, frowned. Though she had heard many praises of Shrek Academy and its unique teaching methods, doubts crept into her mind. "Can this place really help me grow stronger?"

At that moment, a sweet, slightly annoyed voice broke Shen An's thoughts: "Brother, this place looks like a scam."

Shen An turned to see Tang San and Xiao Wu approaching.

Tang San ignored him, but Xiao Wu recognized Shen An and Zhu Zhuqing. She whispered to Tang San, "Brother, it's that guy from yesterday. If the exam is an elimination process, let's knock them out."

Shen An's sharp hearing caught her words clearly. His eyes narrowed. "All this just because of a small conflict? If they dare to plot against Zhu Zhuqing, I don't mind letting my Nine-Leaf Sword Grass taste the blood of these so-called protagonists."

In front of the old man, a boy stepped up to register. "The registration fee is ten gold soul coins," the old man said lazily.

The boy's father paid, but after briefly examining the boy, the old man shook his head. "Your son doesn't meet the age requirement. We only accept those under thirteen. You may leave."

The father asked for a refund, but the old man replied coldly, "All registration fees are non-refundable."

Angered, the father moved forward to argue, but the old man called out, "Dai Mubai, someone wants their money back. Handle it."

A tall, golden-haired young man emerged, exuding an intimidating aura. Two yellow and one purple soul rings appeared around him, radiating power.

Faced with such strength, the father turned pale and quickly left with his son.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze locked onto Dai Mubai. Her heart was filled with disbelief. "The heir of the Star Luo Empire, reduced to a thug threatening commoners?!"