Chapter 48: Shrek Academy Student

Gu Yue naturally noticed Tang Wulin's gaze, but she didn't pay it much attention.

What occupied her thoughts now was Xia Yi.

After the incident with Leng Yulai, Gu Yue no longer dared to underestimate Xia Yi.

She knew that Xia Yi undoubtedly harbored an earth-shattering secret within him.

"Have you ever thought about joining a sect?" Gu Yue suddenly asked Xia Yi as she looked at him.

"Why would I join a sect?" Xia Yi asked curiously.

Unlike academies or associations, sects came with significant restrictions.

Once you joined a sect, it was nearly impossible to leave. Moreover, members had to undertake missions for the sect regularly.

Xia Yi wasn't so idle as to seek out unnecessary obligations.

"Sects do impose constraints, but they also provide cultivation resources that no academy or association can match. Joining a sect could greatly benefit your training," Gu Yue said seriously.

"No, thanks. I think I prefer my freedom," Xia Yi replied, shaking his head. He disliked being bound by rules.

"Suit yourself." Gu Yue didn't press further. Instead, she turned to look out the window, a purple glow flickering in her beautiful eyes.

Previously, even when Xia Yi offended her, Gu Yue didn't care because his innate talent was his weak point.

No matter how clever his mind was, without sufficient strength, he couldn't escape her grasp.

But now, things were different. If the secret within Xia Yi were fully revealed, even if she returned to her peak state, she might not be able to control him.

This forced her to reevaluate her relationship with Xia Yi.

Or rather, if that day truly came, how should she position herself in relation to him?

While Gu Yue gazed out the window, lost in thought, Xia Yi was also reflecting deeply.

He was wondering who he really was.

If it weren't for the dark phoenix tattoo on his arm, he wouldn't have even believed what Zi Ji had told him.

It was too incredible to comprehend.

The thought that a Super Douluo with a three-word battle armor and a demonic spirit resided within him sent chills down Xia Yi's spine.

If Leng Yulai were to break out of his body, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even if she didn't, her very presence within him meant that one day, he would inevitably have to confront her.

A Super Douluo with three-word battle armor, armed with a divine weapon—if she fought with everything she had, even a demigod might fall.

Even with Xia Yi's usual composure, he couldn't afford to be complacent.

As Xia Yi and Gu Yue each pondered their respective thoughts, the soul bus they were on unknowingly entered the city of Tianhai.

Xia Yi had no interest in admiring the beauty of Tianhai City. He followed the group directly to a luxurious hotel that had been prearranged for them.

This hotel had a unique feature: half of its structure was built over the sea, and every room offered views of the ocean, giving guests a sense of being able to embrace the sea.

Xia Yi, being a contestant in the same class as Wu Jin, naturally shared a room with him. Meanwhile, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie from Class Zero were assigned the room next door, with Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan in the room beside theirs.

Upon entering the room, Xia Yi immediately began meditating to cultivate.

Not even Mu Xi's invitation to attend a pre-competition meeting with the Blacksmiths' Association could distract him.

The next day, Xia Yi also skipped the opening ceremony and the draw for matchups, finding the former unappealing and leaving the latter to the teachers.

With Long Hengxu drawing the lots, Xia Yi felt no need to concern himself with it.

With a demonic spirit living inside him, Xia Yi couldn't afford not to train diligently.

It wasn't until evening, when Long Hengxu returned to the hotel, that he informed Xia Yi of the draw results. Upon seeing his opponent's name, Xia Yi couldn't help but laugh.

His first-round opponent was Xu Xiaoyan from Class Zero.

Seeing Wu Jin's opponent made him laugh again—it was Xie Xie from Class Zero.

Even Long Hengxu couldn't help but look helpless.

Had he not drawn these lots himself, he would've suspected the organizers of deliberately targeting Eastsea Academy.

Long Hengxu paid no further attention to Xia Yi, merely offering Wu Jin a few words of advice before leaving.

Like Mu Xi, he believed that Xia Yi's participation in the Soul Master Competition was purely asking for humiliation.

As soon as Long Hengxu left, Gu Yue appeared at Xia Yi's door. "Haven't had dinner yet, right? Let's go out to eat."

"Are you coming?" Xia Yi asked Wu Jin, who had resumed meditating.

"No need; someone will deliver food later," Wu Jin replied coldly. The Tianhai City officials provided sumptuous meals for each contestant, delivered to their rooms daily.

Contestants didn't have to worry about meals at all.

"Suit yourself," Xia Yi shrugged and left with Gu Yue.

Apart from his match with Xu Xiaoyan the next day, Xia Yi also had to compete in the forging tournament.

He decided to take a break and relax with Gu Yue.

He knew that Wu Jin, driven by hatred, was eager to grow stronger and unwilling to waste a single moment.

Not wanting to disturb Wu Jin further, Xia Yi left the hotel with Gu Yue.

As one of the eighteen top-tier cities in the Federation, Tianhai City was especially lively in the evenings during the Tianhai Alliance Competition. Restaurants and bars, in particular, were buzzing with activity.

To Xia Yi's surprise, just as he and Gu Yue entered a bustling seafood restaurant and sat down, Tang Wulin entered with a chubby boy.

Seeing Xia Yi and Gu Yue, Tang Wulin paused momentarily, surprised to encounter Gu Yue here.

But his gaze turned awkward upon noticing Xia Yi seated next to her.

"Wulin, is this your classmate?" Xu Lizhi glanced at Xia Yi before plopping down across from Xia Yi and Gu Yue without waiting for anyone's consent.

Earlier at the opening ceremony, he had seen Gu Yue with Tang Wulin.

Now, seeing her with Xia Yi, he assumed Tang Wulin had made plans with them earlier.

"You two know each other?" Xia Yi asked, glancing at Gu Yue.

"He's from Shrek Academy," Gu Yue replied coolly.

"Shrek Academy!" Xia Yi nodded, recalling Holy Spirit Douluo Yali and Na'er.

"Are you also a contestant from Eastsea Academy? Why didn't I see you at the opening ceremony today?" Xu Lizhi asked curiously.

"It's just an opening ceremony. What's so interesting about it?" Xia Yi replied nonchalantly.

Xu Lizhi blinked, surprised. "Don't you know that today's ceremony featured a showcase match between Shrek Academy and the defending champions of the previous Tianhai Alliance Competition?"

To boost interest, the organizers had gone to great lengths to invite a Shrek Academy team for a performance match during the opening ceremony.

Most of the teachers and students in attendance were there to witness Shrek Academy's prowess.

Yet Xia Yi dismissed it as meaningless.

"Shrek Academy students don't have flowers on their faces. What's there to see?" Xia Yi said indifferently.

"Shrek Academy's performance today was indeed impressive," Gu Yue said seriously.

"That's only because they haven't faced me yet. I'd show them what it's like for a national team to lose to a small squad," Xia Yi sneered at Xu Lizhi.

After all, he had previous experience battling Shrek Academy students.

He refused to believe that anyone in Shrek Academy's peer group could surpass Na'er, the Sea God Pavilion Master's apprentice.

"Such big talk—you're not afraid of biting your tongue?" Just as Xia Yi finished speaking, a cold voice sounded behind him. Turning around, Xia Yi saw another girl walk in.

The girl looked about his age, dressed in the same green Shrek uniform as Xu Lizhi. However, what seemed bulky on Xu Lizhi appeared perfectly tailored on her.

Her golden ponytail hung neatly behind her, and her large blue eyes sparkled beautifully. Her long lashes framed her fair, delicate skin, which looked almost jelly-like under the lights.

Though young, her expression was stern, her gaze icy as she stared at Xia Yi with palpable frostiness.

It was none other than Shrek Academy's inner court disciple Ye Xinglan.

Having shone brilliantly in the earlier performance match, Ye Xinglan was shocked to hear someone belittling Shrek Academy in this small city of Tianhai.

As someone who had joined Shrek Academy early on, she would not tolerate anyone defaming her school.

(End of Chapter)