Douluo Continent: Snow Lotus, Ice Dragon, Ice Phoenix, My Three Lifetimes Martial Soul

Lin Yi's display of Soul King strength and that remarkable ten-thousand-year Soul Ring was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the hearts of the proud and arrogant young men and women of Shrek Academy.

The attitudes of the group, who initially viewed Ning Rongrong as somewhat of a "spoiled young lady," unconsciously underwent a subtle change.

After all, having a Soul King with a ten-thousand-year soul ring as a guard demonstrates the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's high regard for this little princess and the unfathomable strength behind her.

Just as the atmosphere became somewhat tense, a voice with a distinctive magnetism, yet unable to conceal a hint of cunning, rang out: "Oh? Our little shabby academy has some distinguished guests today?"

Everyone turned their heads and saw a middle-aged man with glasses, a hooked nose, a thin build, and a somewhat shabby tailcoat appear at the edge of the open space. He was none other than Flander, the four-eyed cat owl, the dean of Shrek Academy.

Flander pushed up his glasses, his sharp gaze sweeping over Lin Yi, especially lingering for a moment on the jade pendant at his waist that represented the fluctuations of a Soul King and the location where the ten-thousand-year Soul Ring had just risen. A shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.

"Dean Flander." Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others quickly bowed.

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Lin Yi stepped forward, maintaining his composed and respectful demeanor, and bowed slightly to Flander: "I am Lin Yi, a guard of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. I have come to protect my young lady on the orders of the school master. I apologize for disturbing the peace of the academy, and hope the dean will forgive me."

Flander plastered a professional smile on his face and waved his hand. "No problem, no problem. Sect Master Ning's love for his daughter is understandable. However..." He changed the subject, rubbing his fingers together, "Our Shrek Academy's conditions are rather simple, as Guard Lin has surely seen. The food, clothing, lodging, and transportation, as well as... some of the academy's unique training methods, are, after all, closely guarded secrets. Allowing outsiders to stay and observe for an extended period might be..."

The meaning behind the words couldn't be clearer—they wanted money, or something of equal value.

Lin Yi chuckled inwardly. Just like in the original story, he was the kind of person who wouldn't act until he saw a clear benefit.

His face showed a perfectly timed look of realization and understanding. He took out a pre-prepared gold soul coin card from his pocket and handed it over with both hands: "The Dean is absolutely right. This is a small token of my appreciation, totaling one thousand gold soul coins, as compensation for the trouble I have caused the esteemed academy, and also for my food and lodging expenses. As for the academy's training secrets, please rest assured, Dean. I am only responsible for the young lady's safety and will never spy on or interfere with the academy's internal affairs. I will naturally avoid the academy when the young lady is training normally."

One thousand gold soul coins!

Even Flanders, with his vast experience, was taken aback by this extravagant gesture.

Behind him, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others gasped in shock. Earning gold soul coins wasn't easy for them! Oscar stared at the gold soul coin card, his eyes practically turning into gold soul coins themselves.

Flander's face instantly lit up with an incredibly warm smile as he quickly accepted the gold soul coin card, as if afraid Lin Yi might change his mind: "Oh, Guard Lin, you're too kind! You're being too polite! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is truly generous! Don't worry, Shrek Academy is the most hospitable! Accommodation, right? No problem! We happen to have an empty superior room in our teachers' dormitory. It's a bit simple, but it's definitely quiet! That's yours, Guard Lin!"

In a few words, the deal was struck. Flander pocketed the Gold Soul Coin Card and looked at Lin Yi as if he were a moving gold mine, personally and enthusiastically leading him to the so-called "upper room".

As for the previous concerns about the "academy's secrets," they have long been forgotten.

Ning Rongrong was furious at Flander's rapid change of attitude, from arrogance to obsequiousness. But seeing the shocked and slightly envious looks in the eyes of her companions who had previously isolated her, she felt a strange sense of pride.

Look, that's how powerful we Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School people are!

And so, Lin Yi settled down at Shrek Academy. He kept his promise and during the day, while Ning Rongrong was undergoing various "inhuman" training sessions with Tang San and the others—running, weightlifting, sparring, and so on—he never approached her, but only sensed Ning Ronggui's presence from afar to ensure her safety.

He himself continued to hone his soul power in the assigned teacher's dormitory, familiarizing himself with the five soul skills of the Snow Lotus Martial Soul, especially the newly acquired fifth soul skill, "Pure Lotus Bloom".

That evening, when Flander announced that they would be conducting "special training"—going to the Soto City Great Soul Arena for practical combat—Lin Yi would appear and silently follow behind the group.

His presence was like an invisible barrier, and also like a silent declaration.

The Soul Arena is a mixed bag, and some unscrupulous Soul Masters, seeing Ning Rongrong's beauty and support-type abilities, inevitably try to bully her.

But whenever this happens, they feel a calm yet chilling gaze fall upon them, as if they are being watched by some extremely dangerous being. They can't help but feel apprehensive, and their movements become more restrained.

After several times, the Shrek Seven Devils vaguely sensed that with Lin Yi following behind them, they seemed to have a lot more success in the Soul Arena, at least there was much less harassment from those lowlifes.

Ning Rongrong noticed a significant change. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who had previously ignored her and even occasionally made sarcastic remarks, were now, while not exactly enthusiastic, at least on the surface, much more polite.

Xiao Wu and Tang San started arguing less, and Tang San would occasionally discuss with her the positioning and skill timing of support-type Soul Masters in a team. Even the usually aloof Zhu Zhuqing no longer showed pure indifference when her gaze occasionally swept over her.

Ning Rongrong knew that all these changes stemmed from the silent bodyguard, Lin Yi, who followed at the end of the group like an invisible man.

His strength, his background, and the thousand gold soul coins he represented all subtly elevated her status within the team. This feeling was complex; she both enjoyed this sense of being "valued" and felt resentful. Did Ning Rongrong's worth really need a bodyguard to highlight it?

This conflicting feeling actually spurred her on, and she gritted her teeth and persevered during training, not wanting Lin Yi to look down on her, and even less wanting her teammates to think of her as just a pretty face who relied on her family.

Lin Yi observed all of this and understood. This was exactly what Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo hoped for; appropriate pressure could help this little princess grow up faster.

Time slipped by quietly in this rhythm of cultivating during the day and training in the Soul Arena at night.

On this day, Oscar, the food-type Soul Master in the team, finally broke through to level 30 after arduous training and the pressure of the Soul Arena!

The cultivation difficulty of food-type Soul Masters far exceeds that of battle Soul Masters. Oscar's ability to reach level 30 at the age of fourteen is truly remarkable.

The entire Shrek Academy was thrilled. Flander waved his hand and decided to personally lead the team to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for Oscar's third spirit ring.

The group once again ventured into the vast and dangerous Star Dou Great Forest.

Flander flew ahead to scout, while Zhao Wuji stayed on the ground to protect everyone. Lin Yi continued to play the role of bodyguard, silently following Ning Rongrong, his aura restrained.

The search for a suitable thousand-year-old Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent was not smooth, and they encountered attacks from other soul beasts along the way. However, with the cooperation of Zhao Wuji, Tang San, and the others, they managed to overcome these dangers without serious harm. Lin Yi hardly made a move throughout the entire process. Only after the battle did he quietly release a first soul skill, "Healing Light," or a wide-range "Extreme Cold Domain" if anyone suffered minor injuries or excessive soul power depletion, activating only a weak healing buff to help everyone quickly recover.

His methods are precise and discreet, and his treatments are remarkably effective, yet they do not attract excessive attention.

After a few times, even Zhao Wuji couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, secretly praising the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for producing so many talented people, with even a guard possessing such superb auxiliary abilities.

Finally, after searching and waiting, they found their target—a crested snake, six or seven meters long, with a bright red crest on its head and a pair of pale red wings on its back, flying low in the air!

Just as Zhao Wuji was about to subdue him, a sudden change occurred!

Two figures rushed in from the other side of the forest. One of them was extremely fast. He pointed out with his snake-headed cane and a powerful burst of soul energy struck the base of the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent's wing with precision, causing it to scream and fall to the ground.

The newcomers were an old woman and a young girl. The old woman appeared to be in her sixties or seventies, holding a three-meter-long snake-head cane, and had six spirit rings coiled around her body—two yellow, three purple, and one black—clearly indicating she was a powerful Soul Emperor! The girl beside her was about the same age as Ning Rongrong, dressed in a neat and tidy outfit, holding a snake blade, with a pretty face, sharp eyes, and radiating spirit power fluctuations close to level thirty.

"Senior, why did you try to steal our soul beast?" Zhao Wuji asked solemnly as he stepped forward. The other party was a Soul Emperor; while he wasn't afraid, he didn't want to easily make an enemy.

The old woman, none other than Snake Granny Chaotianxiang, sneered, "We clearly discovered and injured this crested serpent first, and chased it all the way here. How did it become yours?"

With both sides sticking to their own versions of events, the atmosphere immediately became tense.

According to the rules of the Soul Master world, in such situations, strength often prevails, or... the younger generation decides the ownership of the Soul Beast.

Snake Granny's granddaughter, Meng Yiran, stepped forward, her pretty face filled with arrogance, and proposed a duel with the person who needed a soul ring, with the winner receiving a soul beast.

Although Oscar is a food-type Soul Master, his combat power is almost negligible. Just when Flander and Zhao Wuji were in dire straits, Tang San stepped forward.

"I'll fight in place of Xiao Ao," Tang San said calmly.

During the ensuing battle, Lin Yi stood beside Ning Rongrong, watching quietly.

The contest between Tang San and Meng Yiran was less a battle of soul skills and more a crushing defeat of each other in terms of hidden weapon skills.

Tang San easily defeated Meng Yiran, whose soul power level was slightly higher than his, by relying on the exquisite Ghost Shadow Step and the unexpected use of hidden weapons.

Snake Granny Chaotianxiang looked unpleasant, but due to her status and the rules, she couldn't lash out. She just gave Tang San a deep look before leaving with a resentful Meng Yiran.

The ownership of the Phoenix-tailed Crested Serpent was thus settled. Oscar excitedly stepped forward and, with Zhao Wuji's help, finished off the soul beast and began absorbing the pale purple thousand-year soul ring.

Throughout the entire process, Lin Yi remained an observer.

He witnessed Tang San's extraordinary skill with hidden weapons, Zhao Wuji and Flander's protection of their students, and the Shrek Seven Devils' united spirit in the face of external pressure.

He even vaguely sensed an even more powerful aura lurking not far away the moment the Snake Granny appeared; it must be Dragon Lord Meng Shu.

If Zhao Wuji or Flander had forced their way in, they probably wouldn't have gotten the better of them.

His task was to protect Ning Rongrong, not to solve all the problems for Shrek Academy.

Excessive intervention can disrupt the natural growth trajectory of these individuals.

He simply and quietly restored their soul power after their battles with the soul beasts, ensuring the team remained in good condition to deal with any unexpected events.

Watching Oscar, who was overjoyed at successfully absorbing the spirit ring and obtaining the third spirit skill "Rapid Flight Mushroom Sausage," and his companions surrounding him to congratulate him, Lin Yi's gaze finally fell on Ning Rongrong.

She was happy for the Oscars, but deep in her eyes, there seemed to be a hint of envy and... loneliness.

Lin Yi knew that the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had her heart, which longed to become stronger and to be recognized, gradually being ignited.

His presence is both her protective shield and perhaps a driving force for her to strive to catch up.

They were originally planning to go back, but Tang San broke through to level 30!