Shrek's quest for favor and beauty, their first encounter in the shadows forging an alliance.

On the official road in the suburbs of Suotuo City, the morning mist had yet to disperse as a group of figures made their way toward Shrek Academy.

Su Chen walked in the middle, surrounded by the five Heroines. The sweet, cloying atmosphere of them vying for his affection intertwined with the fresh morning scent of grass and trees, making for an exceptionally lively scene.

Xiao Wu, dressed in a pink martial outfit, skipped along while holding Su Chen's arm, her rabbit ears swaying gently in the sunlight. She spoke in a coquettish tone: "Brother Su Chen, is Shrek Academy really like the legends say, only accepting monsters? Will I be rejected?"

"With our Xiao Wu being so amazing, how could you be rejected?" Su Chen smiled and stroked her rabbit ears, the soft sensation traveling to his fingertips. "Besides, with me here, who would dare not accept you?"

Karin immediately leaned in, wrapping her arms around Su Chen's other arm, her long purple hair brushing against his wrist. She spoke with a hint of jealousy: "Lord Su Chen, you only praise Little Sister Xiao Wu! I helped her stabilize her injuries yesterday and consumed quite a bit of spirit power, yet you don't feel bad for me at all!"

"I feel bad, I feel bad." Su Chen pinched her cheek and pulled a spirit power recovery pill from his robes, handing it to her. "Here, a reward for you, my exclusive little healing expert."

Karin took the pill, her face immediately beaming with joy, and she rubbed against Su Chen: "Lord Su Chen is the best!"

Hinata walked by Su Chen's side, her cheeks slightly flushed. She used her Byakugan from time to time to observe the surrounding environment and whispered: "Lord Su Chen, there is a fluctuation of spirit power ten miles ahead. It might be the direction of Shrek Academy, and there is... also a familiar aura, it seems like... Xiao Ling."

At the mention of Xiao Ling, Su Chen's eyes turned a few degrees colder, and his black-gold God-Defying Power fluctuated slightly: "He's here too? Perfect, it saves me the trouble of looking for him."

Uzumaki Kushina leaned on Su Chen's shoulder, red Chakra dancing at her fingertips, her tone haughty: "Hmph, that brat with the twin spirits? I didn't get a chance to fight him last time, but now that we've arrived at Shrek, it's the perfect time to let him see how powerful my Lightning Release is!"

Qing Lin controlled the snake swarm to scout the path ahead, the Little Black Snake coiled around her wrist, flickering its tongue: "Lord Su Chen, the snake swarm says there is a Village ahead, which should be Saint Spirit Village where Shrek Academy is located. And... the snake swarm also detected a cold, sinister spirit power, like a girl who is being chased and running toward the Village."

"Cold, sinister spirit power? A girl?" Su Chen raised an eyebrow, a guess forming in his mind. "Could it be her?"

They quickened their pace, and sure enough, at the entrance of Saint Spirit Village, they saw a black figure being hunted by several men in black. The girl wore a black martial outfit, her figure graceful, and she was surrounded by a faint Shadow Soul Power. It was Zhu Zhuqing from the Star Luo Empire.

"Stop! Zhu Zhuqing, do you think you can escape the Star Luo Empire by fleeing to Shrek?" The leader of the men in black sneered, releasing his Spirit. It was actually a Hell Civet, identical to Zhu Zhuqing's Spirit.

Zhu Zhuqing's face was pale, her spirit power severely overdrawn, and her Shadow Soul Power was sluggish, clearly unable to hold on much longer. She gritted her teeth, her eyes firm: "Even if I die, I will not go back to marry Dai Weisi!"

"Seeking death!" The man in black roared, activating his Hell Civet Spirit. His sharp claws, carrying a fierce shadow aura, lunged toward Zhu Zhuqing.

Just then, a black-gold light flashed, and Su Chen instantly appeared in front of Zhu Zhuqing, his God-Defying Power condensing into a palm, forcefully intercepting the man in black's attack. With a loud "bang," the man in black flew backward, spitting blood.

"Who?!" The remaining men in black turned pale, looking at Su Chen with vigilance.

Su Chen stood with his hands behind his back, his black-gold God-Defying Power circulating around him, his tone icy: "Dogs of the Star Luo Empire, how dare you act presumptuously in front of me?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the suddenly appearing Su Chen, her eyes filled with shock, which then turned to vigilance: "Who are you? Why are you helping me?"

"Who I am is not important." Su Chen turned his head, his black-gold gaze landing on her with a hint of playfulness. "What's important is that I can help you escape the control of the Star Luo Empire and ensure you never have to be entangled with Dai Weisi again."

"What do you want?" The tips of Zhu Zhuqing's ears turned red, and she subconsciously took half a step back, silently circulating her Shadow Soul Power, only to find herself unable to move, suppressed by Su Chen's aura.

Su Chen slowly approached, stopping only half a step away from her. His warm breath brushed against her ear, his tone carrying a hint of Charm: "To help you escape the Star Luo Empire, how will you repay me?"

Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks turned completely red in an instant, her eyes darting around in panic, yet she remained firmly locked by Su Chen's aura, unable to move. "You... what do you want?"

"It's very simple." Su Chen chuckled, his fingertips gently grazing her chin. "From now on, be my Shadow Knight, follow me everywhere, and listen to me. How about that?"

"You!" Zhu Zhuqing was both angry and shy, her ear tips red enough to bleed, yet she had to admit that the man before her possessed unfathomable strength and was the only one who could help her escape her predicament.

Seeing the two talking, the men in black seized the opportunity to attack: "Brat, meddling in other people's business, go to hell!"

"Noisy." Su Chen let out a cold snort. Without looking back or turning around, his God-Defying Power transformed into several afterimages, instantly striking the remaining men in black. They screamed and collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

After dealing with the men in black, Su Chen looked at Zhu Zhuqing again, his tone carrying a hint of certainty: "How have you considered it? Become my Shadow Knight; I will not only help you escape the Star Luo Empire, but I can also help you improve your strength, giving you the ability to confront Dai Weisi."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the confidence and doting in his eyes, then looked at the five Heroines beside him who looked friendly, and the vigilance in her heart gradually faded. She knew this was her only chance.

"Fine! I agree!" Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip, her eyes firm. "From now on, I will be your Shadow Knight, following you everywhere!"

A satisfied smile curled at the corners of Su Chen's mouth. He reached out and grasped her wrist, his God-Defying Power slowly surging into her body to help her sort out her chaotic spirit power: "That's a good girl."

Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled. Feeling the warmth of his palm and the gentle God-Defying Power, her cheeks flushed even deeper, yet she did not pull her hand back. She could clearly feel her spirit power recovering rapidly, and her Shadow Power becoming even purer.

"Lord Su Chen, you've abducted another pretty sister!" Karin pouted, yet she still walked forward and handed Zhu Zhuqing a bottle of healing potion: "Here, this is something I concocted; it restores spirit power very quickly."

Xiao Wu also said with a smile: "Sister Zhuqing, from now on, we are Sisters! Brother Su Chen is amazing; you won't lose out by following him!"

Hinata nodded and whispered: "Sister Zhuqing, we will all take care of you."

Uzumaki Kushina leaned against a tree trunk, her tone haughty: "Hmph, since you are Su Chen's person, you are one of us from now on. If those scum from the Star Luo Empire come again, I'll take care of them for you!"

Qing Lin controlled the Little Black Snake, letting it rub against Zhu Zhuqing's hand: "Sister Zhuqing, my snake swarm will protect you too!"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the friendly group before her, and a warm current welled up in her heart; the previous loneliness and helplessness gradually dissipated. She looked up at Su Chen, her eyes filled with a bit more reliance and trust: "Thank you, Su Chen."

"No need to thank me." Su Chen smiled and stroked her head. "From now on, we are family, and I will protect you."

The group continued toward Shrek Academy. Zhu Zhuqing walked by Su Chen's side; although she was still a bit shy, she proactively moved a little closer. Su Chen could feel her transformation and was satisfied in his heart, while also looking forward to the upcoming trip to Shrek—there, not only was Xiao Ling waiting, but there were also more challenges and opportunities, and his harem would become even more complete with the addition of Zhu Zhuqing.