Chapter 34: Return to Shrek Academy

Somewhere in the Star Dou Forest.

Dai Mubai, Tang San, and the others anxiously waited. They had fled all the way here, finally escaping the battlefield between Chen Xiaoming and the Titan Giant Ape. However, the distant forest had remained eerily quiet for a long time now, and they had yet to see any sign of Chen Xiaoming.

"Boss Dai, do you think Teacher Chen might have been turned into a side dish by the Titan Giant Ape?"

Fatty Ma Hongjun glanced behind him. Aside from the endless darkness, there was nothing else in sight. The reputation of the King of the Forest far exceeded that of even a Titled Douluo.

"Fatty, shut up! Teacher Chen isn't that easy to kill!"

Dai Mubai snapped, his tone filled with displeasure. This was no time for jokes. Chen Xiaoming had fought the Titan Giant Ape to protect them. If he truly had fallen, he at least deserved their respect.

Receiving a glare from Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun realized he had misspoken. He chuckled awkwardly and shrank back.

"I was just worried about Teacher Chen!"

Tang San remained silent, activating his Purple Demon Eye to its peak, staring intently in the direction they had fled from. After a long while, he finally let out a breath of relief.

"Xiao San, do you see anything?"

Dai Mubai approached nervously, lowering his voice as he asked. Tang San retracted his gaze, turned around, and shook his head slightly. Dai Mubai's expression darkened.

"Mubai, this might actually be the best-case scenario. There hasn't been a single disturbance from behind us, which means the Titan Giant Ape isn't chasing us. Whether Teacher Chen defeated it or vice versa, one thing is clear—Teacher Chen is likely safe. Otherwise, the Titan Giant Ape would have already come after us."

Hearing Tang San's analysis, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others brightened up slightly, feeling a little more at ease.

Just as they started to relax, a shadow shot out from the darkness.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the rest immediately went on high alert, shielding Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing behind them.

"Teacher Chen!"

Tang San's Purple Demon Eye activated again, piercing through the darkness to identify the figure. His voice rang out in surprise.

Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others heaved a sigh of relief, thinking it was the Titan Giant Ape coming for them.

With a light step, Chen Xiaoming landed in front of them, nodding slightly as he took in their worried expressions. He smiled faintly.

"Sorry, I got a little carried away playing with that big guy and lost track of time."

Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Oscar were momentarily dumbfounded.

That big guy—was he talking about the Titan Giant Ape? And playing with it to the point of losing track of time? Was he serious?

Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances and saw the same conclusion in each other's eyes—he was showing off.

"So... what about the Titan Giant Ape?"

Xiao Wu suddenly stepped forward, her voice filled with urgency, completely disregarding Chen Xiaoming's status as a Titled Douluo.

Though they didn't understand why she was so anxious, everyone turned to Chen Xiaoming, waiting for his response.

A hint of amusement flickered in Chen Xiaoming's eyes as he looked at Xiao Wu. After a brief pause, he casually replied with a smile.

"Killed it."

The two words struck Xiao Wu like a bolt of lightning. She froze instantly, tears welling up in her eyes before she collapsed into Tang San's arms.

"Xiao Wu! What's wrong?"

Tang San caught her, feeling a wave of confusion. He sensed something off about Xiao Wu, but at this moment, his main concern was her wellbeing.

Chen Xiaoming sighed softly.

"Relax, little girl. I was just joking. I'm a Titled Douluo with full spirit rings—I don't need another one. So, I let it go. Don't worry."

Looking at the fragile Xiao Wu, Chen Xiaoming shook his head helplessly. If she couldn't handle something this minor, she had no idea that those two would eventually die anyway.

Xiao Wu stared into Chen Xiaoming's sincere gaze. There was an unmistakable trace of pity in his eyes, leaving her momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, the others were more concerned about something else—

A hundred-thousand-year-old spirit beast, and he just let it go?

"Teacher Chen! If you don't need it, maybe you could, you know... give it to me?"

Fatty Ma Hongjun rubbed his hands together shamelessly, inching closer to Chen Xiaoming. His eyes gleamed with the same cunning light as Flender's, but his expression made him look rather sleazy.

"Damn it, Fatty! You stole my line! Teacher Chen, can you give one to me too?"

Oscar cursed, stepping up as well.

"Get lost, both of you! A couple of twenty or thirty-level weaklings dreaming of absorbing a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring? I'd be doing you a favor by killing you first. Otherwise, you'd explode on the spot!"

Chen Xiaoming waved them away dismissively.

Only then did Oscar and Ma Hongjun remember their lack of strength. Indeed, even if given a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, they wouldn't be able to absorb it. They chuckled awkwardly.

"Teacher Chen, we're just... reserving it for later!"

Oscar laughed sheepishly as he slowly backed away.

Chen Xiaoming rolled his eyes at them, deciding it was time to give them a bit of guidance.

"You all want a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, right? I wasn't going to tell you, but I might as well."

"Once you reach the Soul Emperor level, I'll personally take you to a place where your cultivation speed will soar. And when you break through to Soul Saint, there's a chance you might obtain a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring."

"Whether you succeed or not will depend on yourselves. Until then, focus on improving your physique and willpower—otherwise, you won't stand a chance."

Hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up. Looking at Chen Xiaoming's numerous hundred-thousand-year spirit rings, they assumed he had obtained them there. Their hearts burned with motivation.

Seeing their rekindled fighting spirit, Chen Xiaoming nodded in satisfaction. A bit of motivation never hurt.

As for the place he mentioned—it was naturally Seagod Island. And why wait until they were Soul Emperors?

First, their strength would be barely sufficient by then. Second, for their own safety.

With his Limit Titled Douluo strength, most wouldn't be a match for him, but gods existed in this world. Chen Xiaoming still had some distance to go before reaching Rank 100 and becoming a god. Plus, the mysterious bloodline power in his mind remained unawakened. He wasn't about to recklessly provoke deities.

Glancing at the Shrek Seven Devils before him, he mused. These people would all become gods in the future. Did this world's gods really have it so hard? Constantly searching for successors, desperate beyond belief.

Especially Tang San—he even went to the Heavenly Jewel Realm to find that infamous scumbag, Zhou Weiqing, to inherit his divine position. Clearly, being a god wasn't easy—it was downright miserable.

The cool night breeze carried a sky full of stars. Chen Xiaoming sighed softly.

"Becoming a god and conquering the seas was never my wish, but fate leaves me no choice."

"The tides rise and fall as they please, but this restless heart refuses to settle."

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