Returning to her usual inn, Fu Huan fell into deep thought about the tumultuous past week. The unknown, powerful titled Douluo had suddenly decided to help her. Why? What was his aim? Fu pushed away the nagging doubts, unwilling to indulge in wild theories. However, one thing was clear: this couldn't continue. She needed protection—either from a prestigious academy or a strong mentor. Alone, she was just a grain of sand, and her current spiritual strength, barely beyond the thirty-second level, didn't inspire fear in experienced masters. Her self-taught skills might surprise soul sect members, but against a Spirit King? They would simply evade her. The lack of power—it was a sin, she bitterly thought, recalling that disgusting lecherous gaze from that vile bastard. I almost became his filthy sех toy.
I need support… a strong mentor's hand…
With these thoughts, she left the quiet, inconspicuous town. But now her goal wasn't exploring the world—it was finding someone who could be her reliable protector.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, she absorbed many books and tomes stored in her belt and bracelet. Her Golden Coffin became even more refined: she could now freely adjust its volume based on the size of her target (usually no more than five cubic meters), control the output power of the skill and its duration, reinforce its walls against physical opponents, or make them thinner, increasing the speed of her spiritual blades against agile masters. Her Pale Lightning also reduced casting time, so now she didn't need to slow down her perception of the target with her first skill—the speed had doubled. She hadn't neglected telepathy either, constantly refining her mental power despite having no one to practice with.
As for the academy or mentors… she was striving to find a smart, even slightly cunning teacher—someone strong who could protect her. But in the academies she visited, the teachers were either already managing large groups of students, or they were all muscle with no brains.
Deciding to put the search for a mentor on hold, she opted to gain more battle experience. Registering at the local spirit arena branch as a great spirit master of the 33rd level under the pseudonym "Moon Veil," she fought against various great spirit masters. But she quickly lost interest. They weren't even a fraction as creative as Tang San, and the battles ended without ever unlocking the potential of her soul rings.
This continued for a week, until a girl, slightly older than her in build, stepped onto the stage. At their glance through their masks, both were stunned. Externally, neither of them looked older than thirteen.
A thirteen-year-old great spirit master… – muttered Shui Yuin Er, her eyes narrowing in surprise.
Fu didn't correct her, silently waiting for the battle to begin.
Well then, little girl, show me what you're capable of, – the referee smirked, anticipating an unusual fight.
As soon as the signal to begin sounded, Fu Huan sprang forward with astonishing speed. Shui barely had time to retreat, trying to counterattack, but Fu had already vanished from her sight. Realizing her predicament, Shui instantly created an ice field, desperately trying to buy herself a few seconds of respite. Fu's fist was almost at her face, but at the last moment, Fu seemed to change her mind, retreating. She gave Shui Yuin Er a chance to catch her breath. At least she could lose with dignity, but now… this was humiliating, Shui thought with frustration.
You'll pay for your arrogance! – Shui spat irritably, activating her soul rings.
However, Fu had already roughly assessed Shui Bin Er's strength, but still underestimated her reaction. Fu's speed, after receiving the third ring, was so high that Shui couldn't follow, even when Fu wasn't using her spiritual abilities. Creating the ice field, Shui quickly activated her second and third skills, sending ice projectiles toward Fu. But they passed by, as if into emptiness.
You're strong compared to others and use your soul rings well, – Fu calmly said. – Apologies for how this turned out.
Shui didn't know how to respond. The girl before her, possibly even younger, was head and shoulders stronger. And she still hadn't seen a single one of Fu's soul skills.
I… surrender, – Shui murmured, lowering her head. She couldn't be angry at Fu; it was clear that Fu had been holding back in this fight.
Winner – Moon Veil! – the referee announced, marking her eighth consecutive victory.
Shui left the arena, dejected by her loss. Fu hurried after her. When Shui was about to leave, Fu caught up to her. Having spent so much time alone, Fu Huan suddenly had a strong desire to make a friend her own age.
Approaching Shui, she removed her mask. Beneath it was the face of a twelve-year-old girl, whose beauty could rival even Shui's.
Fu, – she introduced herself with a light smile. – Fu Huan, you can just call me Fu.
Shui looked at her in surprise. – Shui Yuin Er. You can call me Shui-jie, – she offered, slightly embarrassed, the term meaning "older sister" in the north, a sign of respect.
Thus began the unassuming friendship between two genius girls.
Two weeks passed in a blur of training and conversations while Shui stayed in the coastal town.
Sorry, I'll have to leave soon, – Shui said with a hint of sadness.
Fu nodded, smiling understandingly. – I know. You came here for practical experience. You're already very strong and control your ice field well. You notice subtle details that escape many control-type spirit masters.
Shui had often received praise from Fu. Their sparring sessions became regular, but Shui still hadn't managed to land even the slightest blow on Fu. In her eyes, Fu was a true monster, hidden beneath an adorable girlish exterior.
Compared to you, I'm just a talentless fool, unworthy of mention, – Shui sighed.
Fu had heard such words often recently, but this time decided not to argue, appreciating the chance to be with her friend a bit longer. Although Shui was part of a group of seven students, she often secretly left them to meet with Fu. Fu, in turn, also didn't stay idle and frequently sought out Shui.
Well, I think it's time for me to go, – Shui said, standing up. – Good luck, Fu. Maybe we'll see each other again in the future, little monster, – she added with a warm smile.
After bidding farewell to Shui, Fu made her way to a secluded spot to continue training her spatial skills.
Her third skill was exactly what she wanted—the ability to quickly shorten or increase distances. Its principle lay in creating small, unstable rifts in space within a selected area, at a certain radius (depending on her current rank and spiritual power). These rifts could manifest in several ways:
Instant Movement (Close Combat): Fu Huan could use short spatial rifts to instantly move short distances, making her movements unpredictable and allowing her to evade attacks or suddenly strike from unexpected directions.
Redirecting Attacks: By creating a rift at the moment of an enemy's attack, Fu Huan could temporarily distort the trajectory of a projectile or energy beam, causing it to miss its target or even redirect it elsewhere. The effectiveness depended on the opponent's attack strength and Fu Huan's control over the rift.
Spatial "Mines": Fu Huan could create small, unstable rifts that remained invisible until someone approached them. Upon contact, the rift could collapse, dealing cutting damage or causing a brief spatial distortion that disoriented the opponent.
Attacking Rifts (Close and Mid-Range Combat): Fu Huan could focus spatial energy into narrow, unstable rifts capable of slicing through physical objects and damaging spiritual energy upon contact. These rifts could be launched as direct attacks or used to create spatial "blades."
Though her first attempts at creating rifts had been clumsy, she quickly progressed. This complex skill was truly a gift of fate. Fighting a fully powered snake would have made even escaping extremely difficult. The two Soul Emperors only managed to inflict deep wounds on it and drain its spiritual energy, but Fu's sudden attack, aggravating its injuries, gave her a chance to win. In a real battle with a fully healthy and powerful spiritual beast, Fu would think only about survival, not victory.
And now, the twelve-year-old Fu found herself in Suoto, a small town located in the Balak province. Nothing special about the town, but she had heard rumors… rumors about a powerful Soul Saint, one of the Golden Triangle's figures, who lived here. The stories about him were contradictory—from playful tales to mentions of him as a sly speculator. But brushing aside her thoughts, Fu wandered the outskirts.
Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a strange sight. A crowd of girls were fiercely beating a chubby boy with bright red hair. Fu felt a bit sorry for him. She was about to intervene and find out what happened, but decided to just observe for now. Noticing her, the boy cowered in fear, thinking that this beautiful, unfamiliar girl was simply waiting for the right moment to join his tormentors. Seeing she hadn't left, he feared she wanted to add to his misery, but instead, Fu pulled out an experimental potion, the quality of which, of course, was only slightly better than the half-finished concoction she'd made a year ago. The superficial bruises quickly healed, and the pain passed.
Why did you decide to do that? – Fu asked calmly. – I feel like you're a good guy, but why do you change girls like gloves? I don't understand.
The chubby youth, seeing that he wasn't being beaten and had even been healed, glanced at the girl's face—only to faint once more, unable to withstand her beauty…
He lay unconscious for nearly twenty minutes before slowly regaining awareness. Fu was still there, patiently waiting.
"Yaovlal…" he muttered incoherently.
Fu drew out a flask of water and held it out to him.
"Wait. Drink. Rest. You've just been through a beating."
He accepted the water, unable to meet her unbelievably beautiful gaze. Gathering his strength, he spoke:
"It's… because of my martial spirit!"
Fu watched him silently, awaiting a full explanation.
"My spirit is… the Flaming Phoenix. But I was born with a defect. The evil flame it harbors constantly affects me. I'm forced to change partners often. Even weaker spirit masters can't endure a few rounds with me."
Though difficult to believe, Fu sensed no falsehood in his words.
"I see. That explains a great deal," she said thoughtfully. "The girls were clearly exhausted. To avoid harming them, you had to switch companions. I can only sympathize with you—for now, I have no idea how to help. This is the first I've heard of such a case."
Ma Hongjun was genuinely surprised. Even his fellow academy students had always treated his explanations with skepticism—yet this unknown girl had believed him at once.
"You believe me?" he asked in disbelief.
"Yes. I felt no lie in your words. Would you like help returning to the academy?" Fu offered.
The chubby youth sprang to his feet as if he hadn't just been beaten half to death.
"No need! Thanks for your help! Come to Shrek sometime—we only accept monsters with incredible talent!"
She said nothing. Ma Hongjun turned and headed briskly toward Shrek.
"Shrek…" Fu murmured, gazing after him in contemplation.
Alone once more, Fu Huan turned her gaze to the direction the red-haired youth had gone. "Shrek… the Academy of Monsters, is it?" She had heard of the place, but never once considered it for herself. Her path had always been drawn to knowledge and self-reliance—not the confines of an academic institution. Yet his words, "incredible talent," lingered in her mind. Perhaps there, she might find not only powerful allies, but also masters capable of guiding her in developing her unique abilities.
She sighed, unwilling to rush to conclusions. First, she needed to learn more about this academy before making any decision. She resumed her walk through Suo Tu, blending into the crowd, keeping a low profile. Her survival instincts, sharpened since her encounter with the Soul Sect, never let her fully relax. She moved like a huntress forced into hiding, wary of stronger predators stalking the same land.
Evening fell over the city, painting the skies in hues of crimson and flame. Fu found a quiet tavern at the outskirts and ordered a modest supper. Sitting in a corner, her eyes sweeping over the sparse clientele, she mulled over the days to come. The lone path was perilous and cold. Perhaps… it was time to reconsider her stance. Maybe, just maybe, she could seek temporary allies—or at the very least, someone's protection.
After her meal, Fu returned to her small room at the inn. She spread out her notes and maps, poring over details of the Balak Province and possible routes for her journey. Again and again, her gaze drifted to one word scribbled in the margin of her notebook: Shrek. There was something about that name… about that strange encounter with the peculiar youth… that caught her attention. Could it be fate? Could that place hold the answers she sought, the strength and shelter she lacked?
The following morning, Fu Huan woke with a new plan. Rather than plunging deeper into the unknown in pursuit of rare knowledge, she would head toward Shrek Academy. Even if the place wasn't what she hoped for, it would be a new experience—and a chance to meet remarkable individuals. If that academy truly gathered "monsters with extraordinary talent," then perhaps it could become the perfect battleground for honing her powers over space.
With that thought, Fu Huan set out toward the east, toward the mysterious Shrek Academy—unaware of the trials and encounters that awaited her on the path ahead.