"Because they're bad guys, duh. Do bad guys need a reason to kidnap my mom and big brother?"
Shi Yi blurted out his reply without hesitation.
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu froze. That… actually made a lot of sense.
These past few years, Spirit Hall had become more and more overbearing. Many factions across the continent were already complaining in private—but no one dared to stand against them.
Because Spirit Hall was simply too powerful!
Feng Xiaotian hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low tone,
"I might not be able to save your mother and brother directly from Spirit Hall… but I can take you there. It just so happens we're heading in the same direction."
"Big bro, you're going to Spirit Hall too?" Shi Yi blinked in surprise.
"Why are you going there?"
"We're heading to Spirit Hall for the finals of the Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament. Why don't you come with us? That way, we can keep you safe on the road. Wouldn't want you getting bullied again by those Shrek people," Feng Xiaotian said.
"Yeah! And after the tournament, we'll help you save your mom and brother!" Huo Wu added eagerly.
Shi Yi glanced down at the little turtle in his hands. The turtle simply lounged there, clearly enjoying itself. At least it wasn't in a rush.
Seeing this, Shi Yi nodded cheerfully. This might actually be a good thing. If I travel with them, I can learn more about Spirit Hall—and that'll help me save Mom and Big Bro faster!
"Okay!"
They then began to ask Shi Yi about his family background. Shi Yi, not knowing how to explain, simply retold the stories Big Brother Shi Batian had shared with him.
…
"Pfft—Hahaha!"
Laughter echoed through the carriage. Everyone was in stitches listening to Shi Yi's adorable, clueless voice retelling those wild stories.
Even while laughing, none of them forgot to cultivate. In fact, ever since Shi Yi joined them, their progress had become alarmingly fast.
"My soul power… went up three whole ranks in just two days?" Huo Wu muttered in disbelief. She had never cultivated this quickly before.
"I advanced four ranks," Feng Xiaotian said with a frown.
"What?! You too?" Huo Wu stared at him, stunned.
"No idea how," he replied, shrugging. But deep down, Feng Xiaotian had a hunch. It probably has something to do with that little gourd kid.
After all, his cultivation only spiked after Shi Yi joined them.
They both turned to look at the boy. Shi Yi was happily munching on snacks they had given him, smiling innocently as he noticed their gaze.
Of course he knew what they were thinking.
He had done it on purpose.
They had treated him kindly and shared their food, so he wanted to repay them. After thinking long and hard, he came up with something simple:
Gourd shell powder.
Just a little bit—leftovers he hadn't eaten himself. Even diluted, it still had a strong effect on normal cultivators.
It wasn't enough to show the true power of the gourd shells, but even the fragments were already pushing their soul power to new heights.
…
Meanwhile, in Shrek Academy's carriage, the atmosphere was cold.
Compared to the laughter next door, their carriage felt like a frozen tomb.
Tang San slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint flickering within them.
In the Continental Elite Spirit Master Tournament… I will make sure Feng Xiaotian and his whole team regret ever mocking us! They'll be nothing but stepping stones under my feet!
He clenched his fists tight, his knuckles turning pale white.
"What the hell are they laughing about? So loud!" Ning Rongrong growled, frowning as she opened her eyes. The noise had disturbed her cultivation.
The others raised their heads too, all looking annoyed.
That damn laughter had been echoing non-stop for days now. It was seriously messing with their focus.
"Don't mind them, Rongrong. Let them laugh while they still can. Once the tournament starts, they won't be smiling anymore," Oscar said soothingly, though he himself looked irritated.
"Yeah! Just you wait. When we crush them in battle, they'll be the ones crying!" Zhu Zhuqing added, eyes flashing with determination.
"Hmph! I'm not stooping to their level. Bunch of shallow fools…" Ning Rongrong pouted, but her mood had clearly improved.
"Alright, everyone—focus on cultivating. Don't let them get under your skin," Dai Mubai said as he stood up to rally the group.
"Hehe, let them laugh. Just wait till I beat them black and blue during the tournament. So what if they got a soul bone? They're still no match for us!" Ma Hongjun snickered, then went back to training.
Despite the aggravation, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing didn't lose focus. They all placed great importance on the Spirit Master Tournament, and were determined not to slack off.
All of them nodded inwardly to Tang San's resolve.
They closed their eyes again, diving into cultivation, determined to rise stronger than ever.
They had become the butt of jokes lately—all because of how they tried (and failed) to curry favor with Shi Yi.
So now, rather than socializing or being seen in public, they doubled down on training—hard.
And the results were paying off.
…
At the same time…
Spirit City – Spirit Hall
With the finals of the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament about to begin in Spirit City, the capital was livelier than ever. Carriages from every direction rolled through the gates in an endless stream.
Countless nobles and powerful clans—people rarely seen in public—were all showing up for the event, creating a massive stir.
Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong summoned the Golden Generation trio to the audience hall to discuss tournament strategy.
Clad in a luxurious gold robe, she sat tall on her throne, an expectant look in her eyes as she gazed at her disciples.
The Golden Generation had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Shi Hao.
That battle had been a brutal awakening. It had forced them to confront the massive gap in strength between themselves and their opponent.
Ever since then, the trio had gone into seclusion, fiercely training to overcome their shortcomings.
They had made a vow—
One day, they would become strong enough to change Spirit Hall itself.