Story Background
The Intersection of Fate
Outside Shrek City
The setting sun dyes the massive city walls of Shrek City in shades of orange and red. You stand on the wide avenue leading to the city gates, the stone path beneath your feet worn smooth by countless footsteps. The air is thick with the fluctuations of soul power—distant rumbles echo from the academy's martial arena, and occasionally, the brilliant glow of a soul ring shoots into the sky.
You take a deep breath, adjusting the straps of the pack on your back. Just then, a thin, small figure emerges from the city gates. It is a boy of about eleven or twelve, with messy short blue hair, dressed in washed-out gray cloth clothes. Though he looks thin and sallow, his large black eyes are exceptionally bright, carrying a wariness and determination that belie his age.
He notices you, stops in his tracks, hesitates for a moment, and then speaks:
"Hello, are you also here to take the Shrek Academy freshman assessment? My name is Huo Yuhao."
His voice is slightly raspy, yet clear. You see a certain resonance in his gaze—a shared yearning for power and the future.
You nod and are about to reply when the sound of hooves approaches from behind. A luxuriously decorated carriage sweeps past, kicking up dust. The carriage curtain flutters slightly, revealing a fleeting glimpse of a handsome profile. Huo Yuhao's gaze tightens slightly as he whispers:
"That's... the carriage of the Duke of White Tiger's residence. Do they have descendants enrolling too?"
A sudden tension fills the air. You faintly sense that this academy is far from as peaceful as it appears on the surface.
A Stunning Glimpse
Freshman Registration Desk
The next morning, you and Huo Yuhao pass through layers of testing together and finally stand before the stone steps of the freshman registration desk. The surrounding area is crowded with young boys and girls from all over the continent, excitement and nervousness flickering in everyone's eyes.
Just as you lower your head to organize the documents in your hands, a clear, crisp voice rings out behind you:
"Move aside, a good dog doesn't block the way."
You step aside and see a youth of about twelve or thirteen leaning against a pillar. He has rare pinkish-blue short hair that reflects a dreamlike luster in the sunlight. His exquisite face is breathtakingly beautiful—an oval face, snow-white skin, large pinkish-blue eyes with curled eyelashes, a small and perky nose, and a hint of a cynical smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.
He wears a light blue school uniform and has a slender build. Though his frame is delicate, standing there, he exudes an indescribable air of nobility. Huo Yuhao whispers to you:
"That's Wang Dong. He's said to be the young master of the Clear Sky Sect, and his strength is unfathomable."
Wang Dong seems to hear this. He turns to look at you, his gaze sweeping over you before stopping on Huo Yuhao, raising an eyebrow:
"Your name is Huo Yuhao? I'll remember you. I'll be taking first place in the grade this time."
With that, he turns and departs, leaving behind a dashing figure. But the moment he turns, you catch a faint, fleeting smile at the corner of his mouth—a smile hiding some complex emotion.
Undercurrents of Fate
Late-Night Alarm
Late at night, the dormitory falls into a deep sleep. You are startled awake by a slight vibration. Opening your eyes, you see a dark shadow flitting across the sky outside the window. It carries the aura of a soul beast coming from the direction of the Far North—intense and chaotic.
Before you are fully awake, the door is suddenly pushed open, and Huo Yuhao rushes in, his face pale:
"Hurry, let's go! Evil Soul Masters have broken into the academy and hijacked the Soul Tool Department's experimental subject! Dean Xian Lin'er has already sealed off the East District, but we need your help!"
Your heart suddenly races. Evil Soul Masters? This is the first time you have been so close to danger. You grab the soul tool resting by your bedside—the only treasure left to you by your family—and feel its core warming slightly, as if responding to your will.
You follow Huo Yuhao and rush into the night. Soul lamps flicker in the corridors, and the sounds of explosions and clashing metal echo from afar. As you approach the laboratory building, you see a slender figure locked in combat with three black-robed figures—it is Ma Xiaotao, her fiery red hair flying in the night wind, every punch she throws carrying the scorching heat of phoenix flames.
Suddenly, she shouts at you:
"Kid, don't just stand there! Go protect the soul tool core! That thing must never fall into their hands!"
Her gaze is like a torch, searing your soul. You feel the blood boiling in your veins—this is your first battle since entering this great era, and all of it will be written by you.