Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

Qin Ming walked alone on the bustling street, his steps steady and firm.

His dark blue outfit accentuated his tall and straight figure in the afterglow of the setting sun, his short hair stood up like steel needles, and his sharp eyes scanned the surrounding environment.

He did not return to the hotel to rest, nor did he enjoy the rare time of rest that the other team members had.

Because he has more important things to do.

Inquire about news from my alma mater.

Qin Ming's heart was beating a little fast, and a complex mix of emotions—a mix of trepidation and longing for home—was churning within him.

He graduated many years ago, but his time at Shrek Academy is etched into his very being like a brand.

He knew Dean Flanders' teaching style all too well.

Real-world combat is always the best teacher. And the place where you can hone your combat skills the most is undoubtedly the Great Arena.

Those little monsters must be fighting fiercely in the Soto Arena right now, proving their "monster" title through battle after battle.

A smile unconsciously crept onto Qin Ming's lips. He recalled his days at Shrek Academy, Dean Flander's stingy yet protective nature, Teacher Li Yusong's imposing presence when wielding the Dragon Pattern Staff, and Teacher Lu Qibin's always headache-inducing chess training.

There are also those jelly beans from Teacher Shao Xin, which have strange tastes but amazing effects.

Chapter 334 New Teammates

"It really... feels nostalgic," Qin Ming murmured to himself, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

He quickened his pace and headed towards the Soto Arena.

……

On the other side, Shrek Academy.

Before Yu Xiaogang arrived, Shrek Academy only had 6 students, which meant that they could only participate in team battles with a maximum of 6 people.

But ever since Yu Xiaogang came to Shrek Academy, he has noticed this problem of the number of students.

In the stillness of the night, Yu Xiaogang often sits alone in his simple study, lost in thought as he stares at the paper and pen under the oil lamp.

The paper contained his repeatedly revised team configuration diagram, with each position labeled with a name and martial spirit trait.

Tang San, Cinderella, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ma Hongjun.

Six names, all neatly arranged.

But there was a seventh space on the paper, empty, glaringly empty.

Yu Xiaogang pressed his fingers heavily on that blank spot, his knuckles turning white from the force.

"Seven people...we must gather seven people..."

He muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with an almost obsessive light.

The Soul Master Competition, the elite competition of advanced Soul Master academies across the continent, was a crucial part of his plan.

He wanted to prove to the entire continent on that stage that his theory was correct, to prove that a "useless master" who had been ridiculed for half his life could cultivate a genius that would shock the world.

He wanted to shut up all those who had looked at him with pity or mockery.

He wanted to let his father, Yu Yuanzhen, know that he, Yu Xiaogang, was not a disgrace to the family.

He wanted the entire Soul Master world to remember the title "Master".

But all of this is contingent on his team being able to stand on that stage.

The competition rules are clearly written in black and white: a team of seven, with no one missing.

“That Flander guy…” Yu Xiaogang pushed up his glasses in frustration, “He hasn’t taken such an important matter to heart at all.”

Indeed, before Yu Xiaogang arrived, Flander had considered participating in the Soul Master Competition, but he was more inclined to think, "If I can fight, I will; if I can't, then forget it."

Shrek Academy is too poor, so poor that it can barely maintain its daily operations, let alone have the resources to consider any major competition lineup.

But Yu Xiaogang is different.

He saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a gamble to turn his life around.

So, a month ago, when the team's training was gradually getting back on track, Yu Xiaogang found Flander.

It was in the dean's office. Flander was holding the ledger and calculating the month's expenses, his brow furrowed so deeply it could trap a fly.

"We've gone over budget again... These little brats, eating so much..." Flander muttered, his small eyes filled with pain.

Yu Xiaogang pushed open the door and came in, getting straight to the point: "Flander, the team is still missing one person."

Flander didn't even look up: "I know, I know, it's just that we haven't found a suitable one yet."

"It's not that you didn't find it, it's that you didn't look carefully at all." Yu Xiaogang's voice turned cold.

Flander then looked up at Yu Xiaogang's serious face and chuckled dryly, "Xiaogang, you know the situation of our academy... How easy is it to recruit good talents? Which geniuses from those big families would come to this lousy place?"

“Then let’s find a genius who isn’t from a big family.” Yu Xiaogang walked to the table, placed his hands on the surface, and leaned over to stare at Flander.

"Flander, listen carefully. I'm going to lead this team to the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies. I'm going to make Shrek Academy's name resound throughout the entire continent."

Flander was stunned.

He had known Yu Xiaogang for so many years, and he had rarely seen him so serious, so...ambitious.

"But the competition requires seven people, and we only have six right now," Yu Xiaogang continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And the lineup is flawed. As it stands..."

He began to analyze as if listing his treasures: "For support, there's Oscar's food-type ability, which is very comprehensive; for offense, there's Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, one close-range and one long-range, a good combination; for agility, there's Zhu Zhuqing and Cinderella, one is extremely fast at assassination, and the other is flexible and versatile; for control..."

Yu Xiaogang paused, his brow furrowing slightly: "The control is only provided by Tang San. Although his control ability is extremely strong, he is ultimately just one person, and he is more inclined towards support and attack. A truly top-tier team must have rotation and complementarity in the control position. We need another control-type Soul Master, preferably one with group control or special control abilities."

Flander was somewhat bewildered by this series of analyses, but he understood the core meaning: they were missing a control-type Soul Master.

“So,” Yu Xiaogang straightened up, his eyes burning, “you have to go find them. I want to see the seventh team member on the training field within a month.”

Flander opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Yu Xiaogang's unwavering eyes, he swallowed his words.

He knew that Yu Xiaogang was serious this time.

So, after that, Flander left Shrek Academy for a while.

No one knows where he went or what method he used.

Yu Xiaogang only told the team members that the dean had gone to find them new teammates.

This news caused quite a stir among the six members of Shrek Academy.

"A new teammate?" Ma Hongjun said while gnawing on a chicken leg.

"Can we even hire new people here now? Who would want to come?"

Oscar shrugged: "Who knows? But it would be nice if a pretty girl came along."

Dai Mubai didn't speak, but a hint of wariness flashed in his eyes. The addition of a newcomer meant that the team's structure might change.

Zhu Zhuqing remained indifferent as always, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

Tang San and Cinderella exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.

Two weeks later, Flanders returned.

He didn't come back alone.

A girl followed behind him.

That afternoon, on the Shrek Academy playground, the six were conducting their regular training.

Flander's voice came from the academy gate: "Come here, everyone, let me introduce our new teammates."

The six people stopped what they were doing and turned to look at each other.

Then, they were all stunned.

She was a girl who looked to be around eighteen years old, about 1.7 meters tall, with a slender and well-proportioned figure.

She was dressed in a deep purple, well-tailored outfit that accentuated her beautiful curves.

Her long hair was also a deep purple, cascading down to her waist like a waterfall, with slightly curled ends that shimmered like satin in the sunlight.

What's most striking about her are her eyes.

Those were eyes like amethyst, clear and bright, yet carrying a composure and aloofness beyond their years.

Her features were exquisitely sculpted, with a high nose bridge, beautiful lips, and a healthy wheat-colored complexion. She exuded a wild and mysterious beauty.

But at this moment, those amethyst-like eyes were filled with undisguised shock and doubt.

Join Shrek in Chapter 335

Lin An's gaze slowly swept over every inch of Shrek Academy.

The dilapidated school building had peeling paint and broken windows.

The training ground was rudimentary, with uneven and potholed surfaces, and lacked even the most basic soul guidance training equipment.

In the distance, in the dormitory area, several dilapidated wooden houses looked as if they could collapse at any moment.

And there are these six simply dressed young men and women in front of me.

This is the "academy that can participate in the Advanced Soul Master Competition" that Flander mentioned?

Lin An's fingers tightened slightly, his nails digging into his palm.

She felt like she might have been scammed.

A month ago, when Flanders found her, he didn't say that.

“Little An, your father and I were sworn brothers.” Flander said with a sincere expression.

"He's gone now, so I have to take care of you in his place. Come to my academy, and I guarantee you the best training. I'll take you to the highest-level Soul Master Competition in the entire continent and make you famous."

Lin An's father was indeed an old acquaintance of Flander, and he did indeed die unexpectedly during a Soul Hunting operation a few years ago.

So when Flander came to him, saying he wanted to fulfill his promise to his old friend, Lin An had some doubts, but still chose to believe him.

After all, Flander was a Soul Saint, a senior, and someone his father trusted.

But now...

Lin An's gaze swept over the dilapidated campus once more, and doubts in his heart grew wildly like weeds.