Time passed quickly, and half a month had gone by.
It was only today that Li Si suddenly remembered—he was the protagonist!
How could he almost forget about his "protagonist perks"?
"Should I still keep the Eight Spider Lances?"
Li Si stroked his chin, pondering.
Now that he was a Soul Emperor, the Eight Spider Lances weren't as useful as before. But they were undeniably valuable treasures.
They could devour soul power, fuse with soul bones, and their potential in later stages was practically game-breaking. Letting go of them felt like such a waste.
Who said that absorbing an external spirit bone required the spirit ring of the beast that dropped it?
He was the protagonist! Even without the Man-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring, he didn't believe he couldn't absorb the external spirit bone.
"Li Si, what are you mumbling about?"
Xiao Wu rubbed her sleepy eyes, looking at him with confusion.
The sun had only just risen, and she was still drowsy.
"Ah? Nothing…"
Li Si waved her off.
But he knew it was time to put the plan for the Man-Faced Demon Spider's Eight Spider Lances into action.
The Star Dou Forest, straddling the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, stretched for thousands of kilometers.
You could enter from anywhere, but the Man-Faced Demon Spider he wanted was near Soto City.
Soto City—and by extension, the nearest edge of the Star Dou Forest—was only about 500 kilometers from Shrek Academy.
Pulling out a map, Li Si marked the closest entry point to the Star Dou Forest from Soto City.
As for Shrek Academy, it was just a backwater institution and wasn't even listed on the map.
After breakfast, Li Si and Xiao Wu set off for the Star Dou Forest.
Xiao Wu was puzzled by Li Si's sudden desire to visit the forest but didn't voice her doubts.
For her, the Star Dou Forest was a second home. Though it had been years since she'd left, returning didn't feel like a burden.
It was more like visiting family.
At Shrek Academy, things had deviated significantly from their original course.
The supposed "Shrek Seven Devils" now only counted five.
Li Si and Xiao Wu had never even set foot in Shrek Academy.
Meanwhile, the academy hadn't recruited any other students to fill the ranks.
During this time, Ning Rongrong's entitled personality had made her relationships with the Shrek faculty and students even worse.
When she first arrived, Ning Rongrong knew she'd been duped by her father, Ning Fengzhi. How could she possibly be in a good mood?
She looked down on everything and everyone.
Flander's "guidance"? Worthless.
Oscar's record as the youngest Food System Soul Elder? Unimpressive.
She retorted with a single line:
"Can any of you compare to Li Si, a 12-year-old Soul King?"
Whenever Flander brought it up, Ning Rongrong would throw this rebuttal in his face.
What's more, at just 12 years old, Ning Rongrong herself was nearing Level 30, far surpassing Oscar's Level 30 at 14.
"Born with innate full soul power? Big deal. Fourteen years old and only Level 30? Pathetic!" Ning Rongrong often thought to herself.
Flander, on the other hand, was silently seething.
"She's utterly insufferable!"
The sound of assembly being called rang through the academy.
Ning Rongrong dragged her feet, arriving late as always.
Though her tardiness annoyed the others, they were powerless to do anything about it.
After all, who wanted to wake up one day to the Seven Kill Sword at their throat?
"Today, we have an important announcement. Let's first congratulate Zhu Zhuqing on reaching Level 30!"
Flander clapped his hands, though his gaze lingered on Ning Rongrong, as if silently asking: And you?
Ning Rongrong remained indifferent. She'd been at the academy long enough to figure them all out.
Flander? His goading tactics? Laughable.
After seeing true monsters, could these clowns possibly provoke her?
Zhu Zhuqing, head bowed, showed no emotion.
She had reached Level 30 the previous night. Since advancing required a spirit ring, she had approached Flander early in the morning to discuss the matter.
Although Shrek Academy was mediocre in many ways, its staff were competent fighters. Assisting students in acquiring spirit rings was an essential responsibility.
After another round of applause, Flander continued:
"Now that Zhu Zhuqing has broken through, we can't delay acquiring her spirit ring."
"Go pack your things. I'll lead the team to the Star Dou Forest, with Zhao Wuji assisting. You'll experience its dangers firsthand!"
Flander hoped the forest's perils would foster teamwork among the students.
"Yes, Dean!"
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun responded excitedly.
Oscar's third spirit ring had been acquired before Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong joined the academy. At the time, he had gone to the forest with only Zhao Wuji as his escort.
Without provocation, there had been no disputes with Canghui Academy or encounters with Dragon Duke and Snake Granny.
Ning Rongrong, however, responded listlessly, her lack of enthusiasm evident.
Having been raised in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, she already knew far more about soul masters than Shrek's staff could teach.
Their theories? Basic at best. Their practical knowledge? Things she had learned years ago.
The clan's resources and foundation were leagues ahead of Shrek Academy.
"Zhuqing, congratulations! You're only 12 and already at Level 30," Ning Rongrong said with genuine warmth.
Before joining Shrek, she and Zhu Zhuqing had become close friends. Zhu Zhuqing's breakthrough made her sincerely happy.
Ning Rongrong even entertained a bold idea:
What if she could rescue Zhu Zhuqing from the Zhu Clan and have her serve as her personal protector?
With her talent and determination, Zhu Zhuqing's future was limitless. If the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan had to invest resources in her training, it would be worth it.
"Rongrong, it's just Level 30... sigh..." Zhu Zhuqing said, a trace of sadness in her voice.
She adjusted her mood and added, "You're close to Level 30 as well, right?"
"Of course! I'm not far behind you," Ning Rongrong replied confidently.
"Give me five days at most…"
(Chapter End)