Douluo Continent: The Demise of Yin and Yang, the Dragon God Descends

"This is a letter of recommendation." Niu Tian handed over a thick letter, his rough fingertips pausing on the wax seal. "With this, you can directly enter Shrek Academy's entrance exam, saving you the trouble of the preliminary selection. But let me make this clear—this letter is just a stepping stone; whether you can get past that hurdle depends entirely on your own abilities."

Zi Lingtian accepted the letter with both hands, his fingertips touching the texture of the parchment. He carefully folded it and put it in his pocket. As he bowed slightly, the hem of his robe brushed against the bluestone on the ground: "Thank you, Uncle Niu Tian, ​​Uncle Titan."

Wang Dong'er bowed in the same manner, her pink and blue eyelashes trembling, the excitement hidden in her eyes sparkling like broken diamonds, and she finally couldn't hold back.

Titan gazed at the two children, his lips moved, but the words he was about to say were swallowed back, finally turning into a deep sigh. He patted Zi Lingtian's shoulder heavily, the force carrying a hint of reluctance, and then gently ruffled Wang Dong'er's hair, his fingertips brushing against her soft strands.

"Go." Titan's voice was slightly hoarse, as if it had been sanded. "Behave yourself outside and don't bring shame to the Clear Sky Sect."

Niu Tian didn't speak, he just looked at them. His rugged face, weathered by time, was expressionless, but the emotions surging deep in his eyes were like waves veiled by clouds, it was hard to tell if it was concern or something else. He suddenly turned around, facing the mottled wall, no longer looking at them, his broad back casting a silent shadow in the hall.

Zi Lingtian knew in her heart that over the past five years, Niu Tian and Titan, two powerful beings who had transformed from 100,000-year-old soul beasts, had long regarded them as their own children, pouring all their heart and soul into them. At this moment of parting, the reluctance weighed heavily on the air.

"Uncle Niu Tian, ​​Uncle Titan, we're leaving now. Take care of yourselves." Wang Dong'er's voice was soft and trembling, and her eyes were quietly red, like cherries covered in dew.

Titan nodded vigorously, then ruffled her hair as if trying to memorize this farewell, before turning abruptly and striding out of the main hall, his back ramrod straight, never looking back.

Watching his departing figure, Wang Dong'er finally couldn't hold back her tears, which fell in a steady stream, leaving small damp patches on her clothes. Zi Lingtian stood beside her, saying nothing, but quietly handing her a plain white handkerchief embroidered with faint cloud patterns.

Wang Dong'er took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes haphazardly, muttering softly, "I didn't cry, it's just sand in my eyes."

Zi Lingtian's eyes curved slightly, but she didn't expose her.

The distance from Haotian Sect to Shrek City is several hundred miles, and it took Zi Lingtian and Wang Dong'er three whole days to walk there.

Over the course of three days, they traversed towering mountains, the mountain breeze carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees past their ears; they crossed vast plains, the setting sun casting long shadows of the two of them; they also passed by several small towns with wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, listening to the laughter of the townspeople as they walked along the cobblestone streets. It wasn't until the evening of the third day that the outline of Shrek City finally came into view.

Shrek City, one of the most prosperous places on the Douluo Continent, is also the foundation of Shrek Academy. The entire city is built against the mountain, with towering city walls that pierce the clouds, the cracks in the bricks seemingly exuding the weight of time. Every hundred paces along the city walls stands an arrow tower, from which one can vaguely see students in Shrek uniforms patrolling, their figures as upright as pine trees. The city gate is even more bustling, with the cries of vendors, the rumble of carts and horses, and the laughter of pedestrians all blending together, creating a vibrant symphony of everyday life.

Wang Dong'er stood at the city gate, craning her neck to look at the huge plaque above it. The four characters "Shrek City" were bathed in golden light under the setting sun, as if they were about to burst into flames. Her pinkish-blue eyes were wide open, full of novelty and excitement, like a fawn seeing a sea of ​​flowers for the first time.

"Wow, it's huge!" she couldn't help but exclaim. "It's much more impressive than the Haotian Sect!"

Zi Lingtian stood beside her, his deep purple eyes calmly sweeping over the city gate and its surroundings. His gaze lingered on the students in Shrek Academy uniforms, observing the fluctuations of their spirit rings; then it swept over the arrow towers on the city wall, observing the patrol patterns; finally, it landed on a few people at the city gate who seemed to be strolling around, but whose eyes held a hint of vigilance—they were sentries.

The defenses were much tighter than expected.

"Let's go, let's find a place to stay first, and then we'll register at the academy tomorrow," Zi Lingtian said, her voice calm and indifferent.

Wang Dong'er nodded, and the two walked into the city gate side by side.

The city was even more prosperous than the outskirts. Shops lined both sides of the wide streets, their doors gleaming with the faint light of spirit tools displayed outside. The air inside pharmacies was thick with the bitter scent of medicine, and the windows of weapon shops displayed gleaming blades. Various restaurants, teahouses, and inns stood nearby, their signs flickering under the evening lanterns, almost blindingly bright. The streets were teeming with people: commoners carrying loads, spirit masters with longswords, and groups of students in Shrek Academy uniforms—a vibrant and bustling scene.

Zi Lingtian chose an inn not far from Shrek Academy. The inn was small, but clean and tidy, and the wooden stairs creaked slightly underfoot. The innkeeper was a plump woman in her forties with a friendly smile on her face. When she saw the two boys, who looked to be around eleven years old, come to stay, she was taken aback for a moment, then her eyes crinkled into crescents as she quickly arranged two adjacent superior rooms for them.

"You two are here to register for Shrek Academy, right?" The plump woman asked casually as she unlocked the door. "We've had so many kids these past few days, some coming all the way from the mainland, others recommended by sects. Where are you from?"

"Haotian Sect," Zi Lingtian replied succinctly.

The plump woman's eyes widened instantly, and her voice rose a little: "Haotian Sect? That's a legendary, reclusive sect! No wonder you two look different." She looked the two of them up and down, clicked her tongue in praise a few times, and wisely didn't ask any more questions before turning around and going downstairs.

Wang Dong'er closed the door behind her, plopped down on the soft bed, sighed comfortably, and stretched out her limbs like a lazy kitten.

"Finally, I don't have to rush anymore. My legs feel like they don't belong to me anymore." She buried her face in the pillow, her voice muffled and tinged with a hint of coquetry.

Zi Lingtian walked to the window and opened it. Outside, the night view of Shrek City was unfolding, with thousands of lights like stars scattered on earth. In the distance, the outline of Shrek Academy stood silently under the moonlight, exuding a solemn and dignified aura.

"Get some rest, you have to register tomorrow." He glanced back at her.

Wang Dong'er lifted her head from under the pillow, her bright pinkish-blue eyes sparkling as she looked at him: "Zi Lingtian, do you think there are many powerful people at Shrek Academy?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Is there anyone better than you?" she pressed, her tone tinged with a hint of defiance.

Zi Lingtian turned around, looked at her, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "Maybe."

Wang Dong'er snorted, buried her face in the pillow again, and said in a muffled voice, "Impossible, you are the most amazing person I have ever met."

She suddenly looked up, her eyes darting around, as if she had thought of something. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "By the way, when I enroll in school, I plan to dress up as a boy."

Zi Lingtian paused for a moment, somewhat surprised: "Why would a woman disguise herself as a man to infiltrate the academy? Could it be..." He didn't finish his sentence, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

Wang Dong'er's cheeks flushed instantly, and she hurriedly waved her hands, "What are you thinking! Who wants to live with you? I'm just... not used to being alone." Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, and her eyes darted away.

Zi Lingtian looked at her reddened ears and chuckled, "If you want to keep me company, just say so. No need for excuses."

Wang Dong'er, realizing her thoughts had been exposed, glared at him and buried her face even deeper.

Seeing her awkward expression, Zi Lingtian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that Tang Buddha's big hand was about to exert its power.

After thinking about it, I still realized it was impossible.