However, Xuan Zi did not readily believe Di Tian's words. She turned to Wang Feng to confirm, "Wang Feng, is that true? Tell me honestly, I will protect you."
Wang Feng was slightly moved by Xuan Zi's concern. He merely smiled and said, "It's alright, Elder Xuan. They didn't threaten me or anything. There's just something I want to find out here, so I'll stay for a few days. You can go back first, Elder."
Even after hearing this, Xuan Zi remained doubtful. "Are you sure?"
Wang Feng nodded firmly.
Xuan Zi fell silent for a few seconds before sighing. "Very well. If you insist on staying, I won't stop you."
She turned and glared at Di Tian. "Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, I entrust my disciple to you for the next few days. If after that time, he is not here..."
"The Star Dou Great Forest will bear the wrath of Shrek Academy!"
Di Tian stood motionless, his face expressionless, offering no response to Xuan Zi's words.
Seeing that Di Tian remained silent, Xuan Zi turned and left. With a single step, her figure shot into the sky, vanishing from the heart of the Star Dou Great Forest in an instant. A gust of wind swept past, carrying away the remnants of her immense aura.
Once Xuan Zi was gone, Wang Feng let out a sigh and fell into a daze.
Di Tian paid no attention to Wang Feng's thoughts. "Human, your dwelling is to the east of the Lake of Life. Follow me."
"As for the three of you, you may attend to your own affairs." After speaking, Di Tian strode toward the eastern side of the lake.
Snapping out of his trance, Wang Feng hurried after Di Tian.
Under the blazing sun that illuminated the sky, Wang Feng followed Di Tian in silence.
Upon reaching the eastern shore of the Lake of Life, Di Tian suddenly stopped. "This is where you will stay, human."
Before them stood a simple hut. However, the wood used to build it was anything but ordinary. The material was incredibly sturdy—Red-Veined Golden Wood, a type found only in the core regions of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Red-Veined Golden Wood..." Wang Feng muttered in amazement. "Even Shrek Academy only has a few planks of this as part of its collection."
Di Tian frowned slightly. "You truly are a knowledgeable human. Enter. I will summon you tomorrow morning."
Unable to contain his curiosity, Wang Feng asked, "Why is there a human-style house in the inner area? Has a human lived here before?"
Di Tian glanced at him briefly before looking away. "No. Some spirit beasts took an interest in human lifestyles and built this hut to live in while in human form."
"Then this hut has an owner, right?" Wang Feng pressed. "Is it really okay for me to stay here?"
"No need to worry," Di Tian replied. "The owner is currently away. Even if they return, I will inform them of your presence."
With that, Di Tian finally left.
Once Di Tian was gone, Wang Feng stepped inside the hut. As soon as he entered, he sensed a strange aura filling the space. The interior was simple yet tidy—a bed, a wooden table, and a small shelf.
Wang Feng didn't bother inspecting the place too closely. After all, it had once belonged to someone else, and their personal belongings might still be here.
He only checked that the bed was comfortable enough to lie on. Satisfied, he stepped back outside.
Now, he needed something to occupy his time. The woman hadn't told him how long he'd have to wait.
The only thing that came to mind was training. *"Might as well train instead of wasting time on pointless activities."*
But how? Wang Feng frowned.
Although his system's storage contained weights he had crafted himself, they now felt too light. He needed something heavier.
Scanning his surroundings, his gaze landed on a massive boulder.
Instantly, an idea struck him—he could use the boulder as a training weight.
Wang Feng approached the giant rock and placed both hands on its rough surface. Taking a deep breath, he mustered all his physical strength and lifted. The muscles in his arms and back tensed as the boulder finally rose.
But he could only raise it to knee height before setting it back down.
"So heavy!" Wang Feng gasped, wiping his sweat. Yet his eyes gleamed with determination. "Perfect. This is exactly the kind of challenge I need."
...
By the lake, a figure could be seen running along the shore, holding an enormous boulder overhead.
It was Wang Feng.
He continued circling the Lake of Life, his arms trembling under the weight of the thousand-kilogram stone. His breath grew ragged, but his eyes burned with resolve. Sweat poured down his body, his shadow flickering like an ink painting under the sunlight.
Each step left deep footprints in the soil. His muscles screamed in protest, yet he pushed onward.
"Five more laps!" he vowed silently. *This was the first time he had ever felt so weak in front of others. Disgust churned in his gut at his own helplessness earlier that day.*
The shadow of Di Tian's threat lingered in his mind. If only his strength matched his talent, he wouldn't have needed Xuan Zi's protection like a helpless child.
He was sick of being powerless. Sick of being unable to act even when threatened. Sick of the arrogant pride he once held as a so-called "genius."
The label Shrek Academy had given him had made him forget—in the real world, only strength mattered.
From behind the trees, a pair of golden eyes silently observed. Di Tian stood with arms crossed, his face unreadable.
By the ninth lap, Wang Feng's legs were on the verge of collapse. Yet he forced himself to keep going.
"Just a little more! Almost there!!!" He spurred himself on relentlessly.
Finally, as he completed the tenth lap, his legs gave out. He collapsed to the ground, the boulder slamming down with a thunderous *"boom!"* His chest heaved violently, his tongue dry as sandpaper.
As he lay there, gasping for air, a familiar warmth suddenly spread from his chest. The Meteor Tears within his body reacted to his achievement, releasing a surge of pure energy that enveloped him.
The minor cuts and scrapes on his hands from lifting the boulder began to close on their own. His exhausted muscles pulsed as the energy revitalized them.
A faint cracking sound came from his bones as their density increased.
"All those weeks of training… finally paying off!" Wang Feng murmured to himself. Even before coming to the Star Dou Great Forest, back at the academy, he had never abandoned the rigorous training regimen he had maintained for five years.
And now, at last, his efforts were bearing fruit.
Beyond the physical changes, his soul power also grew purer and more concentrated than before.
From a distance, Di Tian's golden eyes narrowed. "Life energy? Where did this human obtain such a thing?" The Black Dragon King sent a mental command to his subordinates, ordering increased surveillance.
With renewed energy coursing through him, Wang Feng stood up. The boulder that had nearly crushed him moments ago now felt lighter as he tested his strength again.
"Impressive… but I'm still not satisfied," he thought, his gaze shifting to an even larger boulder by the lakeside.