On the road to Shrek Academy in the Balak Kingdom...
Yu Yuanzhen walked side by side with Yu Tianheng.
To Yu Yuanzhen's left was a woman wearing a simple blue dress.
She appeared to be in her thirties, with delicate features and hair tied back simply by a cloth. Though her face looked somewhat pale, the dress accentuated her curvaceous, voluptuous figure.
"Aunt, why did you decide to start an academy in Heaven Dou City?" Yu Tianheng had only recently learned of this relative's existence.
This striking woman was Liu Erlong daughter of Yu Yuanzhen's younger brother Yu Luomian, though born out of wedlock.
Some days ago, while wandering Heaven Dou's capital, Yu Yuanzhen had stumbled upon a "Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Academy" and discovered it was run by his own clan's member.
Liu Erlong possessed a mutated Fire Dragon spirit and was a seven-ringed Soul Sage.
"Mostly because I had nothing else to do," Liu Erlong replied. "You know my temperament I'd go crazy with inactivity. I always need to be doing something."
Listening to her, Yu Yuanzhen sighed as he regarded this illegitimate niece so different from her father:
"Erlong, return to the clan. Don't worry about Yu Luomian I'll handle him. As for the other elders, leave them to me. Just come back."
"I'll think about it." After a long pause, Liu Erlong gave a noncommittal answer. "I've lived well these years. Returning to clan life...I probably couldn't adjust."
"Speaking of which, I wonder how Xiaogang is doing." Her expression turned melancholy.
Years ago, Yu Xiaogang had rejected her love as "inappropriate" before leaving abruptly.
A 29th-rank Great Soul Master all these years he likely hadn't fared well. In some ways, his pride surpassed even hers.
"I purchased a Breakthrough Pill from Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's Ning Fengzhi for Xiaogang. Though honestly...I doubt he could reach 30th rank on his own."
Ning Fengzhi had warned about the pill's side effects, advising caution.
But what difference did caution make?
For someone perpetually stuck below 30th rank, breaking through would be a miraculous opportunity regardless.
The future?
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan hadn't fallen so low that a freshly-advanced 31st-rank Soul Elder like Yu Xiaogang needed to shoulder its burdens.
Compared to his son, Yu Yuanzhen valued this talented niece more.
With her aptitude reaching Soul Sage at a young age proper clan training could make her a Title Douluo contender.
Hence his invitation to accompany them.
"Uncle, you're certain Xiaogang and Flender are at this...Shrek Academy?"
Liu Erlong pressed for confirmation. As Yu Luomian's elder brother, she addressed Yu Yuanzhen as "uncle."
"Absolutely. My scouts recently verified it."
"We'll arrive this afternoon." Yu Yuanzhen smiled slightly. "You three share similar minds all founding academies."
"But compared to Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Academy, this Shrek place seems lacking beyond its faculty."
He summarized the intelligence report.
Liu Erlong frowned upon hearing it.
Yu Tianheng couldn't help interjecting: "This is practically fraud! What good are teachers without facilities? Do they train by running with rocks?"
The more he heard, the more absurd it sounded new students "welcomed" by hauling stones to "build willpower"?
"Passable, I suppose." Yu Yuanzhen withheld judgment. "At least Xiaogang brought clan medicinal baths to Shrek. That should mitigate most training injuries."
"Still seems shady!" Yu Tianheng persisted. "A stingy place that embezzles enrollment fees probably pays teachers poorly too."
"I bet those baths are diluted knockoffs with reduced effects."
"Enough, Tianheng. Why so critical?" Yu Yuanzhen sighed.
The boy clearly resented being sent to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to recruit Ye Lingling.
Was this rebellion?
"Speaking of which, how goes recruiting Ye Lingling?"
"Don't ask." Yu Tianheng grimaced. "Unless you plan to kidnap her, I can't help."
"Can't even handle one girl? Learn to appeal to her interests!"
"That's not the issue." Yu Tianheng massaged his temples. "She outright refused, giving a reason I couldn't counter."
"What reason?"
"What reason? Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan are close friends extremely close."
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan tried recruiting her and Ye Renxin through Dugu Yan multiple times without success."
"Grandfather, why assume our shamelessness could succeed where they failed? Because we have dragon scales for skin?"
"Damn brat!" Yu Yuanzhen cursed. "Know when to shut up! Who calls themselves shameless? Asking for a beating?"
Regaining composure, he pressed: "Truly no options?"
After over a month at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Yu Tianheng had made zero progress.
"None." Yu Tianheng surrendered. "What about your end did Yang Wudi agree?"
"He's willing, but with conditions. Wants affiliation like the Clear Sky Clan's subordinate clans and no dealings between us and Spirit Hall."
"That harsh?" Yu Tianheng frowned.
Among the three upper clans, who dared claim complete separation from Spirit Hall's economic ties?
"No choice. The man's talented just reached 82nd-rank but can rival weaker Title Douluos in combat, plus exceptional alchemy skills."
"Whether to accept his terms is still under discussion. Once Xiaogang's matter concludes, we'll decide. I'll bring him then."
Conversing as they traveled, the group finally neared Shrek Academy.
The dismal surroundings resembled a chicken coop beside a village.
Were it not for his scout's emphatic directions, Yu Yuanzhen would never have identified this as an academy.
According to reports, those fenced wooden structures ahead comprised Shrek Academy's campus.
"And they dare charge tuition? Not just that they're picky about students too! Only 'monsters' need apply!"
Absolutely terrifying!