"Man, Tang San's getting more and more ridiculous…"

Within the group, Dai Mubai shook his head helplessly, his tone half-bitter, half-self-mocking.

In Shrek Academy, he had always been the unquestioned top combat power. But ever since Han Feng and Tang San joined, Dai Mubai understood—while his cultivation was still the highest, in a real fight, he could no longer call himself the strongest. For someone as proud as Dai Mubai, it was impossible not to feel conflicted.

And so, from the moment Tang San and Han Feng joined Shrek, Dai Mubai had never once slackened in his training.

Standing beside him, Han Feng caught the muttered words, his eyes flickering slightly.

He knew exactly what Dai Mubai was thinking but didn't know how to respond. Other than sparring with him, Han Feng had no way to help Dai Mubai grow stronger.

"Why not give it a shot? See where your limit really lies." Han Feng tilted his chin up, his words half-joking, half-prodding.

Dai Mubai frowned, noticing Ma Hongjun and the others staring expectantly at him and Han Feng. It was obvious they too wanted to know—among Shrek's three strongest, who really came out on top?

The thought of competing stirred something in Dai Mubai's chest, but just as quickly, he forced it down. As a prince of the Star Luo Empire, the last thing he wanted was to draw unnecessary attention at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

"Forget it. I'll pass. Fengzi, you go instead," Dai Mubai shook his head and declined.

Han Feng wasn't keen on showing off either, but when he saw Dai Mubai's expression, he understood the hesitation. Shrugging, he said, "Alright then, I'll do it. No big deal. If I can't hold out, I'll just stop. No need to force it like Tang San."

"Brother Feng! " Oscar chimed in mischievously. "My third brother withstood spirit pressure equivalent to level forty-five—so you've at least got to hit level forty, right? "

Han Feng only smiled faintly at the teasing.

With his foundation, he was confident he could handle level forty pressure.

"Honored teachers, please instruct me! " Han Feng stepped up before the trio of deans—Zhi Lin, Bai Baoshan, and Meng Shenji—cupping his fists respectfully with a smile.

"Mm…"

The three nodded in approval. They'd overheard the earlier exchange, but unlike with Tang San, they didn't dare act casually toward Han Feng.

"Are you ready? " Meng Shenji asked.

"Of course." Han Feng nodded firmly, masking the strange feeling in his heart.

Meng Shenji gave a slight nod. With a single syllable, a wave of oppressive spirit power surged over Han Feng.

At first, he kept it light, just level ten—no more than a breeze to Han Feng.

Gradually, he increased the pressure. At level twenty-five, Han Feng only frowned slightly, his breathing completely steady.

"As expected of the prince's chosen one," the three deans exchanged glances, filled with admiration.

Even when Meng Shenji raised it to level forty, Han Feng stood unmoving.

Ma Hongjun swallowed nervously. "Boss Dai… what level is this? I lost track ages ago…"

Dai Mubai shook his head. "I don't know. But a few minutes ago, it had already passed level thirty-nine."

Since his own cultivation was at level thirty-eight, nearing thirty-nine, Dai Mubai's judgment carried weight.

Ma Hongjun's eyes widened. "So that means…"

"It's already at the Spirit Elder realm." Dai Mubai's voice was heavy.

Even the Grandmaster frowned in doubt. By his calculations, even if Han Feng's spirit power was refined to Spirit Elder quality, he should've been forced to release his martial spirit at around level thirty-five or thirty-six. Yet the pressure had long surpassed that—and Han Feng still hadn't drawn his spirit!

What Grandmaster didn't know was that Han Feng had already reached level thirty-four shortly after obtaining his third spirit ability at age twelve. By the time of the battle with the Emperor Team, he had already broken through to level thirty-six.

If not for deliberately suppressing his aura with a concealing shield, Dai Mubai and the others would have been shocked speechless much earlier.

After all, who could imagine that someone's spirit power could rise by two full levels without doing anything at all?

"Flander, what level is it now? "Grandmaster?" he finally asked, unease creeping in.

Flander, though worried, coughed, sipped his tea, and put on an act. "Relax, relax. Han Feng hasn't even been forced to release his martial spirit yet, has he? "

In truth, Flander wasn't afraid. If the three deans dared harm Han Feng, so be it—he'd see it through.

Grandmaster could only sigh and accept his words. In his mind, Han Feng wasn't the type to recklessly push past his limit for the sake of pride.

"Should we continue? " Meng Shenji, too, hesitated. He held the pressure at level forty, quietly transmitting to Zhi Lin and Bai Baoshan.

"Keep going," Zhi Lin replied with difficulty. "The prince speaks highly of Han Feng's talent. If he really can't endure, he won't be able to fake it. At the very least, we should force his martial spirit out."

"Alright."

Meng Shenji carefully increased the pressure by one more level.

"Ugh! "Han Feng groaned, his Seraphic Shield automatically manifesting, radiant flames covering his body.

Seeing this, both the deans and the grandmaster let out a breath of relief. At least it proved he wasn't just pretending.

But Han Feng knew he was near his limit.

On the surface, it looked like he'd lasted longer than Tang San—his martial spirit only emerging at level forty-one. But unlike Tang San's Xuantian Skill, which dispersed pressure with elegant precision, Han Feng was relying solely on higher cultivation and denser spirit power.

"Seems I'm still not on Tang San's level…" Han Feng thought to himself.

If the pressure went up another two or three levels, he'd be forced to reveal his external spirit bone—something he absolutely didn't want. Knowing his true limit, Han Feng quickly feigned exhaustion, as if he were about to collapse.

The deans frowned.

Tang San had endured an extra five levels even after his martial spirit appeared. But Han Feng seemed ready to break the moment his spirit emerged. The gap was too strange—almost unbelievable.

Meng Shenji hesitated again, but in the end, he didn't dare continue. If something happened, he'd lose his position as Heaven Dou Academy's headmaster.

"Thank you, deans, for your guidance," Han Feng said with a strained smile as the pressure lifted.

Back among his companions, Dai Mubai gave him a strange look, threw an arm over his shoulder, and whispered, "Fengzi… you were holding back, weren't you? "

"Mm-hmm."

Han Feng only hummed ambiguously, offering no clear answer. But Dai Mubai knew him too well—he understood instantly.

"You're even more outrageous than Tang San…" Dai Mubai muttered, lips twitching.

PS: Read Advance Chapters at patreon.com/c/Shinazuki