Back in Vast Sea City, Ru Shenqi headed to the Spirit Hall to report her second spirit ring. She asked for Qing Qiangda again, and he came. Shock was written all over his features when he saw that it was her who had come for advancement registration.

"Xiao Shen? So soon?"

She saluted politely. "Please test me, Respected Spirit Ancestor."

He nodded and led her to the same testing room as the last time. Inside, they headed over to the crystal ball.

"Am I to assume correctly that your second spirit ring is also a decade millennium year spirit ring?"

She affirmed and released her martial spirit. Two matching black spirit rings hovered around her feet. Her transparent eyes glowed brightly.

"Good, good, truly a genius among geniuses, just like the Shrek Seven Devils."

She recalled her spirit and blinked a couple times. "Respected Spirit Ancestor, doesn't Spirit Empire hate the Shrek Seven Devils for killing the Supreme Pontiff?"

"Yes, but even we must admit that the Shrek Seven Devils are on another level. How else could they defeat our Supreme Pontiff who was the most powerful person on Douluo Continent?"

Ru Shenqi nodded in understanding. She placed her palm onto the crystal ball and a mild blue light filled the room.

"Twenty sixth rank, unbelievable!"

"It's because of my double decade millennium spirit rings. My spirit power has exponentially increased."

He hummed. "Come, we'll get it etched onto your badge."

Qing Qiangda led her over to the registration sector where her information was updated. After she got the badge back, a new line was added.

Twenty Sixth Rank Spirit Grandmaster, Registration Time: Douluo Calendar Year 2652, Registered at Vast Sea City Lord Spirit Hall

A gleeful smile spread across Ru Shenqi's lips. She turned towards Qing Qiangda. "I get ten gold spirit coins every month now, right?"

He nodded. "Yes, that's correct."

She saluted respectfully. "I'll take my leave of this Spirit Hall then. Goodbye, Respected Spirit Ancestor."

"I await your return, Xiao Shen."

As she was walking away, he murmured to himself, "A seven year old Spirit Grandmaster... I wonder if Shrek Academy will hear of her soon."

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When she had returned to Vast Sea City Primary Academy, Ru Shenqi immediately headed to Dorm 9. She unpacked her things and set them out. Her langgan was cool to the touch as it rested in her small hands.

"Mother, Father, I'm a Spirit Grandmaster now. I promise I'll work hard to grow stronger."

All of a sudden, there was a knock at her door. She quickly hid the langgan and straightened out her clothes before going over and unlocking the door. Ru Shenqi pulled it open to reveal Li Zhonghe.

"He-ge? What is it?"

He first noticed the change in her eye color and was slightly taken aback. After he had regained him composure, he grinned.

"I want to show you my first spirit ring. I know you probably can't show me yours, but that's okay."

What he didn't know was that on the way back to Vast Sea City from Icebound Forest, she had actually asked Cang Huaban and Bing Dadao if she could tell him or not. A heated discussion had ensued.

---

"I don't know if it's safe."

"We should be cautious. It's already bad enough that Spirit Empire knows of your spirit and advancing timeframe. Your situation is so rare, Xiao Shen, that every Intermediate spirit master school will fight to get you if news of you leaks. Has anyone from Spirit Empire tried to get you to join them?" Bing Dadao asked.

She nodded. "Spirit Ancestor Qing Qiangda tried once. When I said that I was happy at Vast Sea City Primary Academy, he seemed forlorn but didn't push it."

Cang Huaban thought aloud, "If Li Zhonghe can keep the secret... then perhaps he can be told. His family is influential and has close ties to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda clan, which in turn is close with Shrek Academy. Xiao Shen... for your Intermediate studies, Headmaster Bing and I both think that Shrek Academy would do you good."

Bing Dadao added, "It'd be better if she goes to Shrek alone without anyone having prior knowledge of her. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda clan finds out about her, won't they try to recruit her to their school first?"

"Headmaster Bing, surely she can tell one friend. It's not a good thing if she can't depend on others to have her back."

"I just don't think it's a good idea."

"Teacher Cang, Headmaster Bing, Ru Shenqi begs to be able to tell He-ge. I trust him. He's always protected me from the others. If he knows how different I am, I think he'd try to keep it a secret so their jealousy doesn't affect me."

Bing Dadao sighed and shook his head. "I leave it up to Teacher Cang."

Cang Huaban took Ru Shenqi's hands in her. "Xiao Shen, do you truly trust Li Zhonghe?"

A nod.

"Alright. You can tell him."

---

"Actually, He-ge, Teacher Cang agreed to let me show you my spirit rings," she said as they walked to the sparring area in the rear of the academy.

Li Zhonghe stopped and turned to look at her. "Really?"

Ru Shenqi nodded and added, "I just need you to promise me that you won't tell anyone what they are."

"I promise you."

"Okay."

When the reached the sparring area, she looked around. Using her enhanced vision, she checked for any snoopers or eavesdroppers. When she was fairly certain that they were truly alone, she held out her left hand to him.

"What's your spirit ring?"

He activated his martial spirit, and the essence of the Devil Eyed Shark surrounded him with a bright golden light. His usually light brown eyes turned a slate grey color, representing the color of a peregrine falcon's feathers. A luminescent golden fin appeared on his back as he lifted a couple chi (1) off the ground. A yellow hundred year spirit ring bobbed rhythmically around his feet.

"Cool! You can fly?"

Li Zhonghe shook his head. "I can only jump up into the air a bit, like a shark would. It's an attribute of my first spirit ring. Teacher Jiu found me a hundred year Tricolored Peregrine Falcon."

"So what's your first spirit ability?"

"You can probably handle it since you're a Spirit Grandmaster. Do you want exchange a couple pointers then?"

"Sure, why not. I want to see how my abilities work on people other than Teacher Cang and Headmaster Bing. Their ranks are too far away that I can't affect them much at all."

"Ahh, Li Zhonghe understands. After I show my spirit ability, will you show me yours?"

Ru Shenqi smirked. "Sure... if you think you can handle them."

"Alright. First spirit skill, Hunting."

He leapt up into the air, curling almost in half. After a few minutes, he came diving down. With gravity's help, his speed reached three hundred and eighty kilometers per hour¹380km/hr = 236mph (peregrine falcon diving speed). At the last possible moment, his direction changed, sending a very forceful gust of wind her way. She stumbled backwards and was nearly knocked onto her rear. He landed softly on his feet. The fin disappeared, and he grinned. She nodded.

"Powerful, very powerful," she commented. "But since I'm a twenty sixth ranked Spirit Grandmaster, I'm still able to stand."

His eyes bugged. "Twenty sixth ranked?!"

"I was a fifteenth ranked Spirit Master after I gained my first spirit ring. It's not impossible."

"Then let me see your spirit rings."

She looked around once more, worried. Perhaps Headmaster Bing was right to be worried. It's too open here. But I've already committed to exchanging pointers. I definitely can't back out now.

Ru Shenqi activated her martial spirit. "Clear Crystal Eyes."

Her irises became transparent and vibrantly lucent. Li Zhonghe stared at her, amazed. But then, his jaw dropped as he saw both of her black decade millennium spirit rings floated down and come to rest, circling her feet.

"Two decade millennium spirit rings?!" he exclaimed.

"SHHHH!" she hissed. "No one else can know, He-ge. Please, promise me you won't tell anyone."

He swallowed and nodded.

"Do you still want to exchange pointers?"

"Will your spirit abilities hurt me?"

She bit her lip. "My first spirit ability, Clear Crystal Scatter, causes disorientation to a target. My second spirit ability, Clear Crystal Crypsis, can make you resemble anyone I choose. The resemblance will last for quarter incense stick of time."

"I'll try the second one. I don't know how I feel about the first."

"That's okay. I'll change your appearance, if that's okay?"

Li Zhonghe slowly nodded. "Yeah."

Her still transparent eyes flashed brightly as she said, "Second spirit skill, Clear Crystal Crypsis."

Soon, Li Zhonghe was no longer Li Zhonghe. Instead, he looked exactly like Bo Xuanqi²波玄奇 - given name meaning "Mysterious", his best friend. Even Ru Shenqi looked fairly shocked. The mimicry looked so real, that she couldn't help but reach out. Her fingertips lightly grazed along his jawline.

"I only ever changed a polar fox to a snow leopard before. I didn't know it was so lifelike."

He shifted in embarrassment and stepped back. "You said this lasts for how long?"

"A quarter incense stick of time."

"Okay, that's not too bad. I just need to get back to Dorm 2 and sit it out."

"Sorry, He-ge."

He waved it off. "It's alright, Xiao Shen. I agreed to try your spirit ability."

"Please don't reveal to anyone my spirit rings. Teacher Cang and Headmaster Bing will be very upset."

"I understand. I'll see you later, okay?"

She nodded and watched him depart. After a moment, she sighed. Her shoulders slumped. Taking her leave of the sparring area, she walked over to Cang Huaban's office. Once there, she knocked on the door.

"Come in."

She opened the door, entered, and closed it behind her. Inside, the office smelled faintly of rose. A cerulean blue rug spanned across the cold stone floor. The alabaster white walls were decorated with paintings of flowers. A replica of the White Rose Scepter was mounted on the wall behind the desk at which Cang Huaban was sitting.

She looked up. "Xiao Shen? What is it?"

Ru Shenqi bowed her head and kept her gaze towards the ground. "Is there something wrong with me? He-ge looked at me like I was a freak when he saw my spirit rings."

Compassion and sympathy flashed in Cang Huaban's eyes. She leaned forward and said, "He was probably just in shock. It's a big deal if spirit masters can get a hundred year spirit ring for their first ring. You, on the other hand, have defied all odds and successfully absorbed a decade millennium level spirit ring for your first and second rings. It's unheard of."

"Teacher Cang?"

"Yes?"

"I know that students graduate from their primary academy either when they reach twelve years old or if they become a Spirit Grandmaster. Since I'm technically a Spirit Grandmaster, will I be graduating soon?"

"Yes. When this term ends in the spring, you will graduate from Vast Sea City Primary Academy."

"Where will I go though? Most Intermediate academies have age requirements."

"Headmaster Bing and I were thinking of sending you to Shrek Academy in Heaven Dou City."

"Shrek Academy? Is that where the Shrek Seven Devils are from?"

Cang Huaban nodded. "That's correct."

"Ru Shenqi will do what Teacher Cang and Headmaster Bing think is best."

She bowed her head even further before exiting. Disheartened, she made her way back to her dorm. After she had locked the door behind her, she went and sat in the lotus position on her bed. Ru Shenqi closed her eyes and meditated for the rest of the night, even skipping supper.