The sky above the eastern plains was clear.
High clouds drifted slowly across the horizon, their shadows sliding lazily over the vast lands that surrounded one of the most famous cities on the continent.
Shrek City.
Even from far above, the city was impossible to miss.
It spread outward like a massive living organism, its enormous stone walls enclosing districts filled with towering buildings, bustling streets, and countless cultivators moving through the avenues below.
Markets overflowed with spiritual herbs, rare metals, and soul tool components. Merchants called out to passing customers while caravans rolled through the outer gates, their cargo wagons creaking under the weight of valuable goods.
Students in academy uniforms walked through the streets in small groups, some arguing loudly about cultivation techniques while others discussed upcoming examinations or sparring matches.
The energy of the city was different from most places on the continent.
It carried confidence.
Ambition.
And the quiet certainty that the greatest cultivators of the next generation would pass through these streets.
High above all of it—
A shadow moved across the clouds.
At first, only a few people noticed.
A merchant paused while unloading crates near the central market and glanced upward.
"…What is that?"
His voice drew the attention of several nearby cultivators.
They followed his gaze.
Then more people stopped.
A sleek metallic shape cut across the sky, its long body reflecting sunlight as formation arrays glowed faintly along its hull.
A soul-tool airship.
Large ones occasionally passed above the city, usually belonging to powerful factions or the Sun Moon Empire's engineering divisions.
But this one was different.
Its structure was far more refined than most vessels seen in the region.
Elegant lines reinforced with layered metal plates.
Stabilization arrays rotating smoothly beneath its body.
The ship moved with quiet efficiency rather than brute force.
Someone near the street pointed.
"Look!"
More heads tilted upward.
Within minutes, dozens of people were watching.
The airship slowed as it approached the city, gradually lowering altitude.
Its engines emitted a deep humming tone that vibrated faintly through the air.
Inside the vessel, the view was just as impressive.
Standing near the forward observation window, Huo Yuhao stared down at the city below.
His hands rested lightly against the reinforced glass as the enormous landscape slowly expanded beneath them.
He had never seen anything like this before.
Villages.
Towns.
Even the cities of the Star Luo Empire where he had once lived felt small compared to what stretched out beneath the airship now.
Rows of buildings extended far beyond what his eyes could follow.
Cultivators moved through the streets everywhere.
Even from this height he could see the massive lake near the center of the city, its waters reflecting sunlight like a mirror of silver.
"…So big…"
The words slipped out quietly.
Behind him, Huo Yun'er stepped closer to the window.
Her eyes widened slightly as well.
Even she could not hide her surprise now.
She had heard of Shrek City.
Everyone on the continent had.
But hearing about it and seeing it with one's own eyes were very different things.
"This…"
She shook her head slightly.
"…is Shrek?"
Lin Huang stood a short distance behind them.
His posture remained relaxed as he looked out across the horizon.
"Yes."
His answer was simple.
No explanation followed.
For someone who had traveled across the continent and built a territory like Yuelan, the scale of Shrek City was impressive—but not overwhelming.
Still, even he could not deny its presence.
Few places carried the same influence.
Near the navigation array, Ju Zi studied the incoming flight path.
A three-dimensional map of the city floated above the control platform, glowing lines marking safe airspace routes used by passing airships.
She tapped several runic controls and the projection adjusted.
"Entering Shrek City airspace," she said calmly.
"Altitude restriction ahead."
The engines lowered their output slightly as the vessel slowed.
The massive city beneath them continued expanding into view.
At the far end of the lake, enormous buildings rose beyond the surrounding districts.
Wide courtyards.
Ancient stone structures.
Training grounds surrounded by tall trees.
The heart of the continent's most famous academy.
Shrek Academy.
Huo Yuhao noticed it almost immediately.
His eyes widened again.
"Is that…?"
He pointed through the window.
The academy's campus stretched across a huge portion of land near the lake, its structures far older and more dignified than the surrounding city.
Even from this distance, the atmosphere around it felt different.
Powerful.
Quiet.
As if the land itself carried the weight of countless years of cultivation.
Lin Huang followed his gaze.
"Yes."
Yuhao stared silently.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
He had heard stories about Shrek Academy since he was young.
Stories about legendary soul masters.
About powerful teachers.
About students who had changed the fate of the continent.
For most people, those stories were distant legends.
Dreams.
But now—
He was looking directly at the place those stories came from.
Behind him, Ma Xiaotao stretched lazily.
"Feels strange seeing it again."
Wu Feng smirked.
"You say that like we've been gone for ten years."
"Two years is enough."
Zhang Lexuan stepped beside the window quietly.
Her eyes softened slightly as she looked down at the academy grounds.
"It hasn't changed much."
"Of course not," Ning Tian replied. "Shrek doesn't change easily."
Across the chamber, Tang Ya stood silently.
The last time she had come to this place, her life had been very different.
She had arrived desperate.
Wounded.
Running from her past.
Now she was returning on her own terms.
Stronger.
Free.
Ju Zi adjusted the final flight vector.
"Approaching academy airspace."
She glanced briefly toward Lin Huang.
"Prepare for descent?"
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Do it."
The airship shifted direction smoothly.
Outside the window, the enormous lake of Shrek City expanded across the horizon like a sea of silver.
And beyond it—
The ancient grounds of Shrek Academy awaited their return.
The airship descended slowly.
Its engines shifted into a lower tone as the formation arrays beneath the vessel adjusted to the restricted airspace surrounding Shrek Academy. Unlike most cities, Shrek maintained strict control over aerial movement. Powerful detection arrays surrounded the academy grounds, and any unknown craft approaching without permission would immediately trigger defensive responses.
Which was exactly why several figures had already appeared near the academy's outer grounds.
At the edge of the wide stone road that led to the academy gates, two uniformed guards looked up toward the descending vessel.
One of them narrowed his eyes.
"That's not a military airship."
The other shook his head slowly.
"No… the structure is different."
The vessel was clearly not from the Sun Moon Empire's standard engineering divisions, and it didn't resemble the bulky transport ships sometimes used by major clans either.
This airship was… refined.
Elegant.
Almost experimental.
Several formation rings rotated slowly along its hull as the ship lowered itself toward a landing area near the academy's outer plaza.
Wind swept across the ground as the engines stabilized.
Students walking near the academy gates quickly noticed the disturbance.
"What's that?"
"Is that an airship?"
"Why is it landing here?"
Groups of students stopped along the pathways, staring upward as the vessel gradually descended.
Even within Shrek City, airships were still rare enough to attract attention.
But what truly caught their interest was the symbol engraved into the metallic plating along the ship's side.
A crest.
Several students recognized it immediately.
"…Lin Clan?"
The name spread quickly through the small crowd forming outside the academy gates.
"That Lin Clan?"
"From Yuelan?"
"I heard they've become incredibly powerful recently."
Others simply stared at the enormous ship with open curiosity.
The engines finally quieted as the vessel hovered a few meters above the landing platform before settling down smoothly with a deep mechanical hum.
Dust and wind rolled across the stone plaza.
For a moment, the area went completely silent.
Then the boarding ramp began lowering with a heavy metallic sound.
Several Shrek guards instinctively placed their hands near their weapons.
Even if the crest suggested friendly origins, Shrek never allowed unknown cultivators to enter its grounds without caution.
The ramp finished lowering.
And footsteps echoed down the metal platform.
The first person to appear was Lin Huang.
He stepped down calmly, his posture relaxed as if returning home after a short trip rather than arriving at the most prestigious academy on the continent.
His gaze swept briefly across the gathered students and guards.
Behind him came Tang Ya.
Then Zhang Lexuan.
Ma Xiaotao followed next, stretching her arms slightly as she stepped onto the stone plaza.
"Ah…"
She inhaled slowly.
"Shrek air."
Wu Feng walked down beside her and rolled her eyes.
"It's the same air everywhere."
"Not if you've been stuck in a ship for days."
More figures continued descending the ramp.
Ning Tian.Qiu'er.Jiang Nannan.Ye Guyi.Xu Tianzhen.Ju Zi.Su Mei.Zi Ji.
Each arrival drew more attention from the surrounding students.
At first, many of them were simply curious.
Then they began recognizing faces.
"…Wait."
"That's Ma Xiaotao!"
"And Zhang Lexuan!"
"Are they not part of the Sun and Moon Academy Group?!"
Whispers spread rapidly through the crowd.
Several senior students exchanged shocked looks.
Those names were not unknown in Shrek.
Even among current inner court students, many still remembered stories about them.
But what truly unsettled the observing cultivators wasn't just their identities.
It was their presence.
The moment the group stepped fully onto the plaza, the atmosphere shifted.
A subtle but undeniable pressure spread through the area.
Not released intentionally.
Simply existing.
Even experienced students instinctively took a small step back.
Because the spiritual fluctuations radiating from the group were far stronger than what most academy disciples were used to feeling.
Tang Ya's calm presence now carried a strange spiritual clarity after her recent breakthrough.
Qiu'er's golden aura was sharp and steady like a drawn spear.
Ning Tian's pagoda martial soul radiated layered support energy even while dormant.
And Lin Huang…
Lin Huang barely released anything at all.
Yet something about his presence felt deeper than the rest.
Harder to read.
Harder to measure.
Several Shrek guards exchanged quick glances.
One of them quietly murmured to the other.
"…These people aren't ordinary guests."
But the tension in the plaza shifted again when the next figures descended from the airship.
The temperature dropped slightly.
Students near the front of the crowd shivered instinctively.
A tall woman with long silver hair stepped onto the ramp.
Xue Di.
Her expression remained calm and distant as she stepped onto the stone plaza.
To the students watching nearby, she simply looked like a powerful cultivator with an unusual aura.
No one here knew her true identity.
No one knew she was a 700,000-year spirit beast.
Behind her came Bingdi, who glanced around the academy grounds with mild curiosity.
"Hm."
She folded her arms.
"So this is Shrek."
Several more figures followed.
Lie Yang.Qi Luo.Mo Yu.Di Long.
Their presence alone made the surrounding air feel heavier.
Even without releasing their auras, the natural pressure of beings at their level caused nearby students to feel uneasy.
The guards noticed it immediately.
One of them muttered under his breath.
"…What kind of group is this?"
At the rear of the ramp, two more figures finally stepped down.
Huo Yun'er walked carefully, her posture slightly stiff as she adjusted to solid ground again after the long flight.
Beside her, Huo Yuhao followed with wide eyes.
The academy gates towered before them.
The enormous stone arch bearing the name Shrek Academy stood proudly above the road leading into the campus.
Students passed through those gates every day.
But for Yuhao—
This moment felt unreal.
He stared at the academy grounds beyond the entrance.
Training fields.
Ancient buildings.
Powerful cultivators walking calmly through the campus as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
He swallowed quietly.
"…This is Shrek…"
Behind him, Ma Xiaotao laughed softly.
"First time?"
Yuhao nodded.
"Yeah."
Wu Feng smirked.
"Don't worry."
She glanced toward the academy buildings.
"You'll get used to ridiculous places like this."
Meanwhile, several Shrek instructors had already begun approaching from within the campus.
The commotion caused by the airship had spread quickly.
And the moment the first instructor reached the gate—
He froze.
Because he recognized the people standing outside.
"…Lin Huang?"
The name slipped from his mouth before he could stop it.
And the moment it did—
The whispers in the surrounding crowd grew even louder.
The group that had just arrived at Shrek was no longer just a curiosity.
Now they were something else entirely.
A shockwave that had just landed at the gates of the academy.
The moment the instructor spoke, the whispers around the academy gate grew louder.
"…Lin Huang?"
"…Wait, did he just say Lin Huang?"
Students leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the group standing outside the academy.
But many of them quickly hesitated.
Because the person standing at the front wore a mask.
A smooth white mask covered the upper half of his face, its surface etched with faint spiritual runes that shimmered softly under the sunlight.
The mask concealed his eyes and most of his features.
Only his calm expression beneath it remained visible.
Yet the instructor who had spoken earlier did not hesitate.
"…It really is you."
Lin Huang looked toward him.
"Yes."
His tone was calm and unhurried.
The instructor exhaled slowly.
"You've been gone for quite some time."
More instructors had arrived by now.
The commotion caused by the airship had spread quickly through the academy.
Several of them stopped when they saw the group.
At first, their attention went to Lin Huang.
But it didn't stay there for long.
Because the people standing behind him were just as striking.
Zhang Lexuan.
Ma Xiaotao.
Tang Ya.
Some instructors recognized them immediately.
These were people who had spent significant time at Shrek in the past, even if they had not originally belonged to the academy.
But the rest of the group—
They were strangers.
Powerful strangers.
One instructor frowned slightly.
"…Who are they?"
Another shook his head quietly.
"I've never seen them before."
His gaze lingered on the group behind Lin Huang.
And his expression slowly changed.
Because something about them felt… unusual.
Not hostile.
But heavy.
The spiritual fluctuations surrounding them were extremely condensed.
Zhang Lexuan's presence felt deep and steady like still water.
Tang Ya's aura carried an unusual clarity that suggested advanced spiritual cultivation.
Qiu'er's golden energy felt sharp and controlled.
Even Ning Tian's presence radiated layered spiritual support energy.
Yet it was the unfamiliar individuals who drew the instructors' instincts.
The silver-haired woman standing quietly behind them.
The young woman beside her with an expression that looked both curious and impatient.
The tall figures further back whose presence felt strangely oppressive.
None of them were releasing their aura intentionally.
But their natural presence alone made the surrounding air feel slightly heavier.
One instructor quietly transmitted a spiritual message to another.
"Do you recognize any of them?"
"No."
"But their pressure…"
"…I noticed."
He paused slightly.
"…They're strong."
Very strong.
Of course, none of them could imagine the truth.
The people they were observing so carefully were not merely powerful soul masters.
Several of them were ancient spirit beasts who had survived tribulations spanning hundreds of thousands of years.
But that secret remained hidden.
At the back of the group, Huo Yuhao stood quietly beside his mother.
His eyes moved constantly.
Everything felt overwhelming.
The academy gates.
The instructors.
The students staring at them.
Even the cultivators walking inside the academy grounds felt stronger than many people he had encountered before.
"…Mother."
Huo Yun'er glanced down at him.
"Yes?"
"…This place feels… different."
She understood what he meant.
The atmosphere around Shrek Academy was not something ordinary cities possessed.
It felt as if the land itself carried a history of power.
Even the air seemed dense with spiritual energy.
Before she could answer, footsteps echoed from inside the academy.
Students quickly stepped aside.
Two figures approached the gate.
The first wore the robes of a senior instructor.
Her presence was calm but authoritative.
The second followed slightly behind her.
When they reached the front—
Both of them stopped.
Recognition appeared immediately.
"…Lin Huang."
The woman spoke first.
Her voice carried clear surprise.
Cai Mei'er.
Standing beside her was Xia Lin'er.
For a brief moment, neither of them said anything else.
They simply looked at the group standing before them.
Then Cai Mei'er's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You've grown."
She was not referring only to Lin Huang.
Her gaze moved slowly across the others.
The spiritual pressure surrounding them was impossible to ignore.
But when her perception focused on Lin Huang—
She paused.
Because she could not clearly sense his cultivation.
At all.
The masked young man standing before her felt like an ocean hidden beneath calm water.
Quiet.
But impossibly deep.
Cai Mei'er exhaled softly.
"…What exactly happened during these two years?"
Ma Xiaotao laughed.
"Training."
Wu Feng added flatly,
"And trying not to die."
Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly.
"We've been traveling."
Cai Mei'er's gaze drifted toward the airship behind them.
Then back to Lin Huang.
"…I see."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Elder Mu will want to see you."
Lin Huang nodded once.
"I expected that."
Cai Mei'er turned and began walking toward the academy interior.
"Then follow me."
Students quickly stepped aside as the group moved through the towering gates of Shrek Academy.
Behind them, whispers spread rapidly through the gathered crowd.
Because everyone watching understood one thing.
The group that had just entered Shrek…
Was going to cause quite a disturbance within the academy.
The deeper areas of Shrek Academy felt quieter than the outer campus.
Ancient trees towered above the stone pathways, their branches forming wide green canopies that filtered the afternoon sunlight. Spiritual energy flowed gently through the environment, far denser than in the outer districts of the city.
Walking these paths again brought back memories.
Training.
Classes.
The months spent here during the exchange period between academies.
Behind Cai Mei'er, Lin Huang and the others followed calmly.
Ma Xiaotao stretched lazily.
"Hah… I forgot how big this place is."
Wu Feng glanced around.
"You trained here for months and still say that?"
"Months aren't enough to explore the entire academy."
Before the conversation continued—
Several figures appeared ahead along the training path.
They had clearly noticed the approaching group.
And the moment they saw who was walking toward them—
They stopped.
"…Lin Huang?"
The voice carried clear disbelief.
Standing near the edge of the training field were several familiar figures.
People who had once studied and trained alongside them during the exchange.
Han Ruoruo.Wu Ming.Ling Luochen.Xi Xi.Chen Zifeng.Yao Haoxuan.
For a brief moment, neither side spoke.
Then Wu Ming stepped forward slightly.
"…You're back."
Her gaze moved slowly across the group.
"…All of you."
Ma Xiaotao grinned widely.
"Missed us?"
Wu Ming snorted.
"I was hoping Shrek would finally be peaceful again."
Xi Xi laughed quietly.
"That didn't last long."
Ling Luochen's calm gaze moved across the group.
Two years had passed.
But the people standing before them were still familiar.
And yet—
Something about them felt different.
Stronger.
More composed.
Her eyes stopped briefly on Lin Huang.
More specifically—
On the mask covering his face.
"You're still hiding your face."
Lin Huang shrugged lightly.
"It saves time."
Before he could say anything else—
Two arms suddenly wrapped around one of his shoulders.
Another pair grabbed his other arm.
Ma Xiaotao spoke immediately.
"Don't."
Zhang Lexuan's calm voice followed.
"Start."
Tang Ya sighed softly beside them.
"Anything."
Lin Huang blinked.
He glanced down slightly.
Ma Xiaotao had hooked an arm around his shoulder.
Zhang Lexuan stood on the other side, holding his arm calmly.
Tang Ya had stepped close enough that he clearly wasn't going anywhere.
Behind them, Qiu'er watched him with narrowed eyes.
Wu Ming raised an eyebrow.
"…What are you doing?"
Xiaotao smirked.
"Preventative measures."
Tang Ya added quietly,
"He tends to provoke people."
Zhang Lexuan finished calmly,
"Especially when he sees Shrek students."
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly beneath the mask.
"I haven't even said anything."
Qiu'er crossed her arms.
"That's exactly the problem."
Xi Xi covered her mouth, clearly trying not to laugh.
Chen Zifeng rubbed his temple.
"…Some things really don't change."
Yao Haoxuan laughed loudly.
"So you still need four girls to keep you under control?"
Lin Huang glanced toward him.
"I heard that."
Meanwhile, Ling Luochen's attention slowly shifted toward the unfamiliar members of the group.
Her gaze stopped briefly on Xue Di.
Then Bingdi.
Then the others.
Lie Yang.
Qi Luo.
Mo Yu.
Di Long.
Their presence was quiet.
But the pressure surrounding them was unmistakable.
Ling Luochen frowned slightly.
"…Your companions…"
Wu Ming finished the sentence.
"…feel terrifying."
Ma Xiaotao grinned.
"They're friends."
That was all the explanation she gave.
Further back near the training field stood Dai Yaoheng.
Unlike the others, he did not approach.
He simply watched the group silently.
His eyes lingered on Lin Huang for a brief moment before shifting away.
Their relationship had never been friendly.
Still—
Seeing them again clearly surprised him.
At the rear of the group, Huo Yuhao watched everything quietly.
He had no idea who these people were.
But the atmosphere between them clearly showed familiarity.
"…Mother."
He whispered.
"They know each other."
Huo Yun'er nodded gently.
"They trained together before."
At that moment, Cai Mei'er cleared her throat.
"We can continue this later."
Her voice immediately restored order.
Everyone straightened slightly.
"Elder Mu is waiting."
Ma Xiaotao finally released Lin Huang's shoulder.
"Fine."
Zhang Lexuan stepped back as well.
Tang Ya sighed softly.
"You're lucky."
Lin Huang adjusted his sleeve calmly.
"I feel very protected."
Wu Ming rolled her eyes.
"You probably deserve it."
The two groups exchanged one last look.
Old classmates.
Old training partners.
Then Lin Huang's group continued following Cai Mei'er deeper into Shrek Academy.
Behind them, the Shrek students remained standing quietly for several moments.
Watching them disappear down the path.
Finally, Han Ruoruo spoke softly.
"…They've changed."
Ling Luochen nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her gaze lingered where Lin Huang had walked.
"…Especially him."
The deeper one walked into the inner grounds of Shrek Academy, the quieter the surroundings became.
The lively sounds of training fields gradually faded behind them, replaced by the calm stillness that surrounded the academy's most sacred area.
At the center of it all stood a tree.
A colossal tree.
Its trunk was ancient beyond measure, wide enough that several dozen people could stand around it without touching its bark. Branches stretched toward the sky like pillars holding up the heavens themselves, while leaves of shimmering gold reflected the afternoon sunlight in a soft, radiant glow.
The Golden Tree.
Even for those who had never visited Shrek before, its presence was impossible to ignore.
The spiritual energy around it was dense and pure, flowing outward like an invisible tide that nourished the entire academy.
Huo Yuhao felt it immediately.
His breathing slowed slightly as the energy brushed against his senses.
"…So much spiritual energy…"
Huo Yun'er placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Yes."
Her voice was quiet.
"This place is extraordinary."
Ahead of them, Cai Mei'er stopped near the massive roots of the Golden Tree.
"The elder is waiting."
Her voice softened slightly.
Then she stepped aside.
Everyone present understood the meaning immediately.
Lin Huang stepped forward first.
The others followed.
Under the shade of the Golden Tree, a figure sat quietly in a reclining chair made from smooth wood.
The old man looked frail.
His hair was completely white, and his body appeared thin beneath the simple robes he wore.
At first glance, he looked like nothing more than an elderly man resting beneath a tree.
But anyone who could sense spiritual energy understood immediately.
The Golden Tree itself seemed to breathe with him.
As if the land, the roots, and the spiritual energy surrounding the academy were all quietly connected to the old man's existence.
Mu En.
The true guardian of Shrek Academy.
The moment Lin Huang's group approached—
The old man slowly opened his eyes.
A gentle smile appeared on his face.
"…You've returned."
His gaze rested on Lin Huang.
Even with the mask, recognition was immediate.
Lin Huang inclined his head slightly.
"Elder Mu."
Mu En chuckled softly.
"It's been some time."
His eyes slowly moved across the group standing behind Lin Huang.
One by one, he observed them.
Zhang Lexuan.
Ma Xiaotao.
Tang Ya.
Qiu'er.
Ning Tian.
Wu Feng.
Each of them carried the presence of someone who had grown tremendously since leaving Shrek.
Mu En nodded faintly.
"You've all progressed well."
Then his gaze shifted.
Toward the unfamiliar faces.
And that was when something interesting happened.
For a brief moment—
His expression changed.
Subtly.
But noticeably.
His gaze lingered on Zi Ji.
The purple-haired woman stood quietly among the group, her posture calm and dignified.
To most people, she simply looked like a powerful cultivator.
But Mu En was not "most people".
His perception was far too sharp.
Even without releasing her aura, the depth of her presence was impossible to hide completely.
Mu En studied her for several seconds.
Then he smiled faintly.
"…It seems you have grown stronger."
The words were spoken toward Lin Huang.
But his eyes remained on Zi Ji.
A quiet understanding passed through the air.
Zi Ji did not respond.
She simply stood there calmly.
Mu En chuckled softly.
"I see."
He did not push further.
Instead, his gaze moved again.
And this time—
It stopped on Xue Di.
For a brief moment, the air itself seemed to grow colder.
The silver-haired woman stood quietly beside Bingdi, her expression calm and distant.
To ordinary cultivators, she might appear as nothing more than a powerful soul master.
But Mu En's eyes narrowed slightly.
Because what he sensed from her…
Was profound.
Extremely profound.
Even compared to most titled douluo.
His gaze lingered there longer than before.
Then he leaned back slightly in his chair.
"…You always seem to be surrounded by powerful people."
The words were spoken lightly.
Almost like a joke.
But the meaning behind them was clear.
Lin Huang simply replied calmly.
"I've been fortunate."
Mu En laughed softly.
"Fortune favors the capable."
He studied Lin Huang again.
The mask.
The calm posture.
The strange depth of presence that even he could not completely measure.
Then he sighed quietly.
"You have walked far since leaving this place."
Lin Huang did not deny it.
Mu En remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
"There is something I would like to ask of you."
The atmosphere grew slightly more serious.
Even Cai Mei'er straightened subtly behind them.
Mu En's voice remained gentle.
"If Shrek ever faces a danger beyond its strength…"
His gaze met Lin Huang's directly.
"…would you be willing to lend your help?"
It was not an order.
It was a request.
Lin Huang considered the words briefly.
Then he nodded.
"If it is within my ability."
Mu En smiled faintly.
"That is enough."
He lifted his hand slightly and gestured toward the Golden Tree behind him.
"In return…"
His voice softened.
"…you and your companions may cultivate beneath the Golden Tree."
The words caused Cai Mei'er's eyes to widen slightly.
Because access to the Golden Tree was not something Shrek granted lightly.
Mu En continued calmly.
"The energy here may help stabilize your cultivation."
His gaze flicked briefly toward several members of the group.
Especially Xue Di and Zi Ji.
Then back to Lin Huang.
"And I believe…"
He smiled faintly.
"…you may find something interesting here as well."
Lin Huang's gaze shifted toward the massive golden tree behind the elder.
For a brief moment—
His spiritual perception brushed against the enormous life force contained within it.
Ancient.
Pure.
Endless.
Something deep within that energy resonated faintly with the path he had already begun walking.
Mu En watched his reaction quietly.
Then he closed his eyes again.
"Cai Mei'er will arrange the rest."
The meeting was over.
But everyone present understood something.
The return of Lin Huang and his group to Shrek…
Was only the beginning of something much larger.
And beneath the ancient roots of the Golden Tree—
A new chapter of their journey was about to begin.