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Seeing the subtle hostility in Xiao Xiao's gaze, Ling Luochen couldn't help but smile faintly. It seemed that this little girl had mistaken her for a romantic rival.
Unfortunately for Xiao Xiao, she had targeted the wrong person. Ling Luochen was merely Yuwen Tuo's elder sister at the moment. Xiao Xiao's true rival was still in seclusion—someone far superior in both appearance and strength, though her personality left much to be desired.
Fortunately, that person would only ever be Xiao Xiao's enemy, not her love rival, since Yuwen Tuo harbored nothing but hatred and killing intent toward her.
Yuwen Tuo invited Ling Luochen to sit down and share the meal with them. After knowing each other for so many years, it was surprising that Ling Luochen had never tasted Yuwen Tuo's cooking before.
He had been confined to the inner courtyard for years and lacked the inclination to cook during that time.
Ling Luochen took a small bite and her eyes lit up. "I never expected your culinary skills to be so refined, Xiaotuo. They far surpass your abilities as a soul master. I wonder if I'll have the chance to enjoy your cooking more often in the future."
Before Yuwen Tuo could respond, Xiao Xiao quickly interjected, "Of course you can! If Senior Sister likes it, feel free to visit our home anytime for meals. Both Tuo and I will always welcome you."
Her words weren't entirely out of place. Although she and Yuwen Tuo weren't officially together—let alone married—they were fellow disciples. If their sect ever established a base, wouldn't it naturally become their shared home?
And Ling Luochen, at best, would just be an occasional guest.
Instead of getting upset, Ling Luochen found herself charmed by Xiao Xiao's innocent possessiveness. This little girl was already staking her claim, albeit on the wrong target. Declaring ownership over her, Ling Luochen's elder sister figure, was pointless. The real trouble lay with the volatile woman still locked away in the inner court.
Ling Luochen wasn't worried about Xiao Xiao's safety. Even though Ma Xiaotao could be reckless, her demonic flames were now under control, making it unlikely she'd harm students from her own academy. Moreover, Xiao Xiao was a prodigy with twin martial souls and the champion of this year's freshmen tournament. The academy would undoubtedly value her highly.
She might even become one of the next generation of Shrek's Seven Monsters.
However, given Ma Xiaotao's temperament, while she may not physically attack Xiao Xiao, breaking up couples or forbidding Xiao Xiao from seeing Yuwen Tuo again was entirely within her character.
"Well then, Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, since you've kindly offered to treat me to dinner, I'll make sure to repay the favor someday. You and my little brother Xiaotuo should take good care of each other," Ling Luochen said with a warm smile.
"Huh?" Xiao Xiao furrowed her brows in confusion. Despite her repeated displays of hostility and provocation, why was this supposed romantic rival remaining so calm and composed?
Could it be that she was hiding her true intentions, planning something sinister behind the scenes?
Lian Yue couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly. Clearly, the relationship between Ling Luochen and Yuwen Tuo was purely fraternal. This little loli had clearly misdirected her jealousy.
Cao Jinxuan whispered hesitantly, "Um... Future Master's wife, I think this person is probably more like my Senior Uncle in nature."
"Senior Uncle?" Xiao Xiao blinked. That term referred to someone who was either the older brother or sister of one's teacher, didn't it?
Could it be…?
Yuwen Tuo explained, "Xiao Xiao, these past few years, I've relied heavily on Elder Sister Luochen's care. She's been like a real sister to me."
Yuwen Tuo spoke sincerely. Though Ling Luochen's appearance matched his ideal type, he currently held no inappropriate feelings toward her. Right now, their sibling bond was stronger than any romantic connection. Besides, Ling Luochen adored him as a younger brother, which benefited him far more than pursuing anything else.
As for what the future might hold between them, they'd cross that bridge when they left Shrek Academy. If fate brought them closer, he'd seize the opportunity. If not, he'd continue cherishing her as his elder sister for life.
Xiao Xiao's expression suddenly tensed. She realized she had made a grave mistake. Panic surged through her mind. Oh no… This is terrible! I haven't even entered the family yet, and I've already offended my future sister-in-law. Is there any hope for redemption?
"S-Sister, please have some tea. What I meant earlier was… Our home is your home too! You're always welcome to stay whenever you'd like!" Xiao Xiao stammered nervously.
Watching Xiao Xiao flustered like this, Ling Luochen couldn't help but giggle softly. Her future sister-in-law was absolutely adorable.
"Don't worry, I'm not angry." Ling Luochen patted Xiao Xiao's head reassuringly. "By the way, since you've passed the freshmen assessment, you'll soon be assigned to classes. Strong attackers and controllers are grouped together. Since you're already a team, you'll likely end up in the same class. Have you decided which department you want to join? Our academy primarily offers two tracks: Martial Soul and Soul Tool."
"Martial Soul!" all four answered simultaneously.
For Yuwen Tuo, it didn't matter—he planned to leave Shrek eventually, so the choice was irrelevant. Xiao Xiao, with her twin martial souls, lacked the capacity to split her focus toward learning soul tools. Lian Yue simply lacked the aptitude for it.
As for Cao Jinxuan, Yuwen Tuo thought he might actually benefit from dual training in soul tools. His time-based martial soul granted him naturally strong mental power if cultivated properly. Additionally, such precision work might unlock unique applications for his abilities.
Huo Yuhao possessed the Spiritual Pupil, and Yuwen Tuo himself had inherited the Yin-Yang Demon Eye cultivation method from his sect. If Cao Jinxuan proved satisfactory enough to become his disciple, Yuwen Tuo wouldn't hesitate to pass on his knowledge generously. He could discuss this option with him later—if Cao Jinxuan showed interest, great; if not, Yuwen Tuo wouldn't force it.
Even if he did take on a disciple, while he'd teach everything wholeheartedly, the final decision on what to study rested with the student. For instance, swords were his main focus, while knives were a personal hobby.
Ling Luochen nodded approvingly. "As the champions of the freshmen assessment, becoming core disciples of the Martial Soul Department is guaranteed. At worst, you'll secure a core reserve position. Once you're recognized as core disciples, the academy will invest significant resources into nurturing your growth into stronger soul masters. In such cases, the Martial Soul Department naturally wouldn't want you wasting energy studying soul tool knowledge. In Shrek Academy, the Martial Soul Department dominates, while the Soul Tool Department remains subordinate. Junior brothers and sisters, keep striving!"
"Yes, Senior Sister!" Lian Yue and Cao Jinxuan replied earnestly.
Unlike Yuwen Tuo, they genuinely wanted to stay at Shrek for now. As for Xiao Xiao, having understood Yuwen Tuo's intentions, she was ready to leave alongside him whenever necessary.
The next morning, bathed in bright sunlight, the campus buzzed with fresh air thanks to Hai God Lake and the Tree of Life at its center. All the new recruits who had passed the assessment gathered in Shrek Square, awaiting class assignments.
Soon, Yan Shaozhe, Dean of the Martial Soul Department, arrived with over a dozen teachers.
Holding a folder, Yan Shaozhe surveyed the group gravely before speaking. "All freshmen, this year's assessment has concluded, and we've successfully determined the top three teams. Now, allow me to formally announce their names and the rewards they'll receive from the academy. In third place, Zhou Sichen's team, consisting of Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, and Long Xiangyue, step forward."
Surprisingly, Zhou Sichen's team secured third place—a deviation from the original storyline where they ranked fourth, losing to Lan Susu and Lan Luo's Spirit Fusion Technique. However, due to Yuwen Tuo's team altering the competition flow, Lan Luo and Lan Susu hadn't even made it into the top four. Another quarterfinalist team fell short compared to the twins, allowing Zhou Sichen's team to snag third place.