Based on the information they had gathered earlier, Xiao Tianyang explained the rules of the competition and the challenges they were about to face.
To be honest, what came next had little to do with Fei Xue—or even Saber. Because it concerned only himself.
However, to avoid damaging their friendship, Xiao Tianyang decided to be completely honest and no longer hide anything.
He even revealed some of his own secrets—such as his Soul Power Cuisine and the attention he had drawn from Spirit Hall.
After all, even though they had spent five months together, they were still from the same sect.
Yet, there was a world of difference between confessing certain things upfront and explaining them after the fact.
In this regard, Xiao Tianyang had undoubtedly chosen the latter.
On one hand, it was out of trust. On the other, it was a matter of responsibility.
But Fei Xue and Zhou Cheng didn't seem to care about these things.
In fact, they even scolded Xiao Tianyang for underestimating them.
To this, Xiao Tianyang could only shrug and say, "You're both smart people. You know that if this situation continues, once my identity is exposed, I'll inevitably become a target—and even the teacher won't be able to protect me."
"And both of you are talented, highly valued by the teacher. I don't want to drag you or him down because of my own problems."
"Senior Brother," Zhou Cheng said solemnly, "the teacher actually warned us before we came. Though he wasn't explicit, we understood the risks of this trip."
"But have you considered that since he allowed us to come, he must have already weighed the consequences?"
"Isn't that a form of trust?"
"Precisely because it's trust that I fear failing it."
A flicker of helplessness crossed Xiao Tianyang's face, but then he spoke firmly, "But now that you've made your decision, I'll do everything in my power to protect you."
"Senior Brother, you don't have to worry too much about Spirit Hall," Fei Xue chimed in with a light laugh. "After all, your current concealment method is so advanced that even the teacher couldn't detect it unless he was actively searching."
Saber added in reassurance, "Besides, this time, I won't be using martial arts."
"Fei Xue and Senior Brother Zhou have never fought in front of Spirit Hall's people, so their identities won't be exposed."
"As long as we're careful, it won't be as dangerous as you think."
Xiao Tianyang naturally understood this logic, so he nodded. "Alright, let's leave it at that for now."
Still, some things needed to be addressed beforehand—so they could be mentally prepared for emergencies.
Moreover, his acting skills would have to be flawless.
After all, as he had promised his teacher, if it came down to a life-or-death situation, he would have to confront Spirit Hall head-on.
But he also knew that once that door was opened, it wouldn't be easy to close again.
And the flood that followed wouldn't just affect him—it would sweep up everyone around him.
So his real concern wasn't the immediate danger, but the aftermath.
Soon, Xiao Tianyang collected his thoughts and turned to Fei Xue and Zhou Cheng with a smile. "You both understand the competition rules now. The next issue is codenames."
"Since no one knows you here, it's better not to use your real names to avoid future complications."
Fei Xue rested her chin on her hand, tapping her jade-like fingers. "Coming up with a name is the hardest part… How about 'Baixue' for me?"
"Alright, what about you?" Xiao Tianyang nodded and glanced at Zhou Cheng.
"Brother, I'll go with 'Dashan'," Zhou Cheng replied.
Xiao Tianyang nodded again. "Then my codename will stay the same—Edward. And Saber's will be 'Knight'."
With that, he stood up. "In that case, let's disband for now."
"I'll report our codenames to the teacher, and he'll handle the rest."
"Should we disguise ourselves too?" Fei Xue's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Of course. If we're changing names, we can't neglect appearances," Xiao Tianyang said, rolling his eyes. He then pulled out two sets of costumes and props similar to his own. "I prepared these for you earlier. They might not be as refined as mine, but they're still treasures."
"At the very least, anyone below the Super Douluo level won't be able to see through them—more than enough for this competition."
Fei Xue's gaze lingered on the smaller black robe adorned with gold patterns.
The face-covering wasn't a mask and goggles but a delicate veil instead.
The design was elegant yet understated, noble without being flashy—perfect for a girl's taste.
But what truly caught Fei Xue's attention was something else entirely.
She paused, then turned to Xiao Tianyang with deep, shimmering eyes—her shy, pleading look sending a chill down his spine.
She stepped closer, her voice soft and coaxing. "Senior Brother… since you have so many treasures, why not give me a few more?"
Xiao Tianyang coughed and straightened up. "Ahem, your senior brother is a gentleman. That trick won't work on me."
"Good brother~"
Fei Xue's sweet, pleading tone—combined with her pitiful expression—nearly shattered Xiao Tianyang's defenses instantly.
"Fine, but don't push your luck for more." How could he refuse when a beauty asked so earnestly?
He pulled out a pair of boots. "These are 'Divine Movement Boots.' They enhance speed. Happy now?"
"Thank you, senior brother!" Satisfied, Fei Xue snatched the boots and began inspecting them eagerly.
Meanwhile, Xiao Tianyang turned to Saber. "Let's go."
…
After finishing their tasks outside, Xiao Tianyang sent Saber back to Shrek Academy.
Night had fallen.
Seated at his desk, Xiao Tianyang had already changed and washed up, ready to rest.
But his mind was still troubled.
He couldn't sleep, preoccupied with possible solutions.
The people he cared about fell into two categories: First—Shrek Academy. Second—Miao Zhenshan and the others.
What worried him most was Shrek Academy.
Their roots were deep, making relocation unrealistic.
But what if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—represented by Ning Rongrong—pledged support for Shrek Academy?
And if Dai Mubai, after showcasing his exceptional talent, regained the royal family's favor—would they also back the academy?
Furthermore, what stance would the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan take, with the Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong's influence?
In fact, if not for Xiao Tianyang and Saber's sudden appearance, Shrek Academy would have gathered the most promising talents of this generation—becoming a nexus between major factions.
If a crisis arose, these geniuses could unite under Shrek's banner to strategize.
Of course, some among them might have ulterior motives.
But one thing was undeniable—if such an alliance formed, Spirit Hall wouldn't dare act recklessly.
At the very least, until Bibi Dong was fully prepared, she wouldn't take drastic measures.
Yet, that still wasn't enough. Because if the timeline diverged, one misstep could cause the entire alliance to crumble prematurely!
…
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