Compared to three years ago, they have all grown up. Xie Xie was more than 1.8 meters tall, and Yue Zhengyu had surpassed 1.85 meters. Both of them were strikingly handsome. Their countenances were, however, quite different. Most times, Xie Xie spotted a delinquent smirk on his face whereas Yue Zhengyu exuded a wholesome demeanor. Among the Inner Court disciples, they definitely attracted attention. They were part of the Shrek Seven Monsters after all.
“What’re you doing?” Yue Zhengyu surveyed the messy room while covering his nose. He went over and opened the windows to let fresh air which had the humid smell of the Sea God Lake into the room.
Xie Xie leaned back onto the sofa. He looked forlorn and thoroughly bored.
“Are you sick?” Yue Zhengyu shot him a glance and asked pointedly.
Bickering had become an essential part of their daily routine, but they were still the best of friends. They had similar personalities although each of them was also unique in their own ways. Still, Xie Xie had a more pronounced character.
Xie Xie chuckled wryly. “Alright, that’s enough. What do you want to say? If not, don’t come here to disturb me. Go away.”
“Oh?” Yue Zhengyu retorted, “Someone’s in a bad mood today? What malady are you suffering from this time? Why don’t we have a quick spar, just you and me?”
Xie Xie laid down on the sofa. “Not interested.”
Yue Zhengyu’s gaze flickered slightly. He walked up to him and chuckled. “I know what’s wrong with you. It’s because of Yuanen, no? What a wimp. Come to think of it, you’re hopeless. You’ve been pursuing Yuanen all this while, but you still haven’t gotten her to accept you. Even I’m at a loss as to how I should advise you.”
“Scram!” Xie Xie shouted angrily.
Yue Zhengyu shoved his hands into his pockets. “Tsk. Don’t you think I know what you’re thinking of? We’re coming of age this year, and the Sea God Lake’s Date Festival is coming soon. All Inner Court disciples above eighteen years of age are eligible to participate. Are you worried that someone else might win Yuanen’s heart, or that you won’t have a chance?”
Xie Xie grunted. “With these handsome looks of mine, it’s impossible for me to not have a chance. Even if she had to choose, Yuanen will certainly choose me, and me alone. If she doesn’t choose me, the others won’t stand a chance either.”
Yue Zhengyu chuckled. “I don’t think so. There are plenty of seniors from the Inner Court that are good-looking and powerful. Not only that, many among them are two-word Battle Armor Masters. How can you be so sure Yuanen will choose you? It’s anyone’s game!”
Xie Xie glared at him. “I’ll fight it out with whoever dares compete with me.”
Yue Zhengyu said, “Get a grip man. With these qualities of yours, you sure you want to fight it out with the others? If I were Yuanen, I won’t bother with you. You deserve this.”
Xie Xie leaped to his feet abruptly like a gamecock. “We’re not friends anymore!”
Yue Zhengyu sneered. “Suit yourself. Do you know the most important thing about pursuing a girl?”
Xie Xie replied, “One must be shameless, right? Aren’t you such a person?”
“Get lost you. Alright, I’ll be going off. I won’t teach you then,” as he said this, Yue Zhengyu turned around and walked away.
Xie Xie hastily stepped forward with a great stride and pulled on Yue Zhengyu. “Brother, you win. Teach me, quick. I admit that I’m in the wrong. Isn’t that good enough?”
Yue Zhengyu chuckled and said, “Idiot, it’s confidence! If you don’t bloody believe in yourself, how can you hope that the girl will think you’re reliable? It’s true that you must be brazen, but you cannot just think that you’re brazen. You must act brazen and be confident of yourself. You’ve spent a lot of time pestering Yuanen, no? Yet, how many times have you actually confessed to her? Isn’t the Sea God’s Lake Date Festival a perfect opportunity for that? Even if you failed in the end, you must at least let it be known to all the Inner Court seniors that whoever dares to compete for Yuanen’s hand will have to fight with you to the death. You must state your intention! Even if Yuanen doesn’t accept you, at least you’ll have fewer rivals to worry about. Frankly, although Yuanen is beautiful, she possesses the Titan Giant Ape martial soul and is commonly seen brandishing two giant hammers. I don’t think there are many who’re interested to compete with you.”
As the saying went, ‘A few wise words woke up the dreamer’. Upon hearing what Yue Zhengyu said, Xie Xie immediately felt enlightened.
“You’re right! Why haven’t I thought of that? I’ve been thinking all along that she’ll reject me. What’s there to fear about being rejected? I have nothing to fear once I declare my intention! Big brother, I owe you one. After I figure out my plan for the Date Festival, I’ll treat you to a big meal!” Xie Xie’s fighting spirit was instantly reignited. He had always been one who would not admit defeat easily. Somehow, he got himself into a blind alley and felt that he would not stand a fighting chance with Yuanen which gave him such agony.
The Sea God’s Lake Date Festival was a grand gathering where only Shrek Academy’s Inner Court disciples could participate, and the participants had to be over eighteen years old.
This tradition had existed since ten thousand years ago. The Shrek Academy students were outstanding which made it difficult for them to find a partner who would be compatible with them outside of the academy. That was why many of them would select their partners during the Sea God’s Lake Date Festival.
The most popular pair was Spirit Ice Douluo, Huo Yunhao and Dragon Butterfly Douluo, Tang Wutong back then. They became the favorite gossip of the generation.
It was also the liveliest period in Shrek Academy’s Inner Court when the Sea God’s Lake Date Festival was about to be held. Outer Court students who were over eighteen could also attend the festival. This was an exciting time for the students. If they wanted to be happily married in the academy, they would have to work hard in their cultivation and attain the rank of a one-word Battle Armor Master as soon as possible. Only then would they have the opportunity to take part in the Sea God’s Lake Date Festival.
There were only twelve days remaining before the festival. XIe Xie was getting anxious and began to worry.
“Huff, huff.” A heavy panting sound was heard. Shortly after, a large figure squeezed into Xie Xie’s dorm.
Xu Lizhi was now much bigger and taller than three years ago. However, his weight had also increased accordingly. He was truly obese now. He was fair and fat which made him looked very much like the Recovery Pork Buns he made.
“This is bad. This is bad!”
“What’s the matter?” Xie Xie and Yue Zhengyu looked at Xu Lizhi in shock.
Just as Xie Xie and Yue Zhengyu had similar personalities, so did Xu Lizhi and Tang Wulin. At times, Xu Lizhi appeared to act silly, but he and Tang Wulin were seemingly kind. However, inwardly they were crafty scoundrels. Anyone who crossed them usually ended up quite badly.
Xu Lizhi was usually quite collected, but at the moment, he was seized with panic.
“What happened? Why are you so flustered?” Yue Zhengyu asked, puzzled.
Xie Xie piped in, “Fatso, what’s wrong? By the way, if you don’t lose some weight, can you even participate in the Sea God’s Lake Date Festival?”
Xu Lizhi said pointedly, “Why can’t I participate in it? Big Brother has his ways. I’m telling you, Dai Yun’er and Long Yue are here at our academy!”
“Who, who did you say they were?” Xie Xie was shocked.
Looking puzzled, Yue Zhengyu asked, “Why do their names ring a bell?”
Xu Lizhi said, “They’re from Monster Academy whom we went up against in Star Luo Empire’s Continental Young High-Ranking Soul Masters Elite Competition! Dai Yun’er is a princess of Star Luo Empire. Have both of you forgotten? Long Yue was that monster with the Mountain Dragon King martial soul.”
After hearing Xu Lizhi’s response, their expressions changed. They asked in unison, “What’re they here for?”
Xu Lizhi replied, “From what I heard, it seems that they’re both here as exchange students. Also, they’ll be placed in Shrek Academy’s Inner Court to study. They’ll be our classmates.”
“What?” Yue Zhengyu and Xie Xie had strange looks on their faces. They had not paid much attention to Dai Yun’er, but the Dragon King Long Yue had left a deep impression on them. If it were a one-on-one, no one among the Shrek Seven Monsters was his match. Tang Wulin was gravely wounded by him and nearly died in battle.
Yue Zhengyu had lost to Long Yue before as well. Hence, he could not help but be haunted by a ghost from his past at the mention of Long Yue’s name.
The two of them exchanged looks. “What’s he here for? Is he staging a protest?”
Although they had developed their skills quite rapidly within the past three years, there was still a distinct gap between them and Long Yue. Three years ago, he was already an expert at the rank of a six-ring Soul Emperor! He was also a two-word Battle Armor Master. It has been three years since. Even if he had not improved to be a three-word Battle Armor Master, he would still be quite powerful in terms of strength. He was not someone who they could go up against even with their current strengths. It would be unthinkable if it were a one-on-one.
Xu Lizhi shrugged, “Who knows? He may be here to take his revenge on us. In any case, I’m a food-type Tool Soul Master. So, this has nothing to do with me. Better pray for your good fortunes, both of you. I have Sister Xinglan to protect me.”
“Don’t you have a spine?” Yue Zhengyu said rolling his eyes.
“Spine? I can’t eat that. Why would I need it? Alright, I’m leaving. I still have some preparations to complete for the Date Festival.” Xu Lizhi chuckled.
Yue Zhengyu’s eyes beamed, “Fatso, which senior of the Inner Court do you have your eyes on now? C’mon, tell us. Don’t tell me you have your eyes on Wu Siduo or Zheng Yiran. Those two… One has thorns while the other is poisonous. You better be careful.”