After returning to Shrek Academy, the first-year final exams were not yet over but were nearing their end. Ninety percent of the students had already completed their combat missions and were rushing back.
Jing Shaoyu and his six companions returned the earliest. After resting for a night, on the second day back at the academy, Jing Shaoyu went to find Shen Yi to inquire about their final exam results.
"Teacher Shen, how did we do on our final exams? Did anyone not get full marks?" Jing Shaoyu sat on the sofa in Shen Yi's office, a slight smile on his face as he joked.
"Of course, you all got full marks!" Shen Yi replied seriously. "Not only that, but each of you will also receive additional bonus points."
"That's great," Jing Shaoyu said. "Let's take our extra points and distribute them to the students who didn't pass. That way, our class can move on to the second year intact."
"I don't oppose your idea," Shen Yi said with a deep expression, "but I don't support it either. You can help them temporarily, but you can't help them forever. Some people are destined to leave. Throwing sheep to the wolves would only harm them."
"Haha, I understand, Teacher Shen," Jing Shaoyu laughed. "Although some may be lagging behind now, it's possible for them to accumulate strength and achieve greatness later. So, we should give them more time."
"Heh," Shen Yi smiled subtly. "There are indeed late bloomers, but only if they possess certain qualities. I haven't seen that in any of our class members yet."
After leaving Shen Yi's office, Jing Shaoyu found the others in their workshop. They were discussing the creation of their second Battle Armor. Jing Shaoyu informed them about the final exam scores, and no one objected.
In the afternoon, Jing Shaoyu accompanied Xu Xiaoyan to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda headquarters to fuse with her second Soul Spirit.
"Teacher," Jing Shaoyu greeted Leng Yaozhu with a warm smile.
"You're here," Leng Yaozhu said, not surprised to see Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan. She pointed to a Soul Spirit egg nearby. "Here, Xiaoyan, this is your Star Beast. You can fuse with it now. Do you need me to guide you?"
"Giggle, no need. I know what to do," Xu Xiaoyan replied with eager eyes, looking at the Star Beast Soul Spirit egg. "Thank you, Senior."
Without any hesitation or delay, Xu Xiaoyan began the fusion process.
Once they confirmed that Xu Xiaoyan was fusing normally, Jing Shaoyu and Leng Yaozhu stopped paying attention to her. Leng Yaozhu looked at Jing Shaoyu with a faint smile on her pretty face. "You really made a splash this time, didn't you?"
"Isn't that just how it should be?" Jing Shaoyu replied calmly, as if it were a trivial matter.
"Heh!" Leng Yaozhu laughed. "You've brought such great fame to Shrek Academy this time. How does Yun Ming plan to reward you? Surely he'll officially appoint you as the heir to the Sea God Pavilion, right?"
"Giggle, I'm not sure. I came to see you first after returning and haven't been to the Sea God Pavilion yet," Jing Shaoyu replied casually, his tone light and carefree.
"Ugh! Did you come here just to see me?" Leng Yaozhu retorted, her tone laced with disdain, yet her pretty face was brimming with joy and happiness as she spoke.
"Hehe, of course, I came specifically to see you!" Jing Shaoyu declared with a righteous and serious expression, his eyes glancing briefly at Xu Xiaoyan before adding, "And I brought Xiaoyan along to fuse with a Soul Spirit. No conflict there, none at all."
"Alright, stop being so cheeky with me," Leng Yaozhu's expression turned serious as she said, "You've been too conspicuous this time. Certain forces and individuals might not be pleased to see Shrek Academy produce another figure like Yun Ming. So, you need to be careful lately. Hand over the Sky Phoenix Ring, and I'll enhance your means of self-protection."
"I understand," Jing Shaoyu's demeanor also turned serious as he raised his hand and handed the Sky Phoenix Ring to Leng Yaozhu.
The matter Leng Yaozhu mentioned was something he had naturally considered. Regarding the impact of his existence on fate, because his current strength was too weak, the main trajectory of fate wouldn't undergo any fundamental changes. In essence, he was currently a Tang Wulin Pro Max version, replacing Tang Wulin's role in the original story. However, due to his talent and strength far surpassing Tang Wulin, it had caused some unexpected effects, which he couldn't determine or control at this stage.
But one thing was certain: his proactive actions against the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy had elevated Shrek Academy's reputation to its peak across the entire federation. The immense pressure from Shrek Academy would inevitably accelerate the alliance of certain groups, and conspiracies against Shrek Academy might already be in the works.
The Shrek Academy explosion, seemingly a sudden attack by the Holy Spirit Church, was actually a long-planned conspiracy by the anti-Shrek alliance. It was clear that Qiangu Dongfeng, the master of the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy were members of this anti-Shrek alliance.
Jing Shaoyu was currently powerless to stop this conspiracy. All he could do was quietly cultivate and, after Shrek Academy's downfall, try to inherit as much of the academy's 20,000-year accumulated legacy as possible.
"Here, take it. Make sure to carry it with you at all times," Leng Yaozhu's voice interrupted Jing Shaoyu's contemplation as she spoke.
"Alright, I understand," Jing Shaoyu took the Sky Phoenix Ring, put it on his hand, and then gave Leng Yaozhu a thoughtful look. His beautiful master was sharp in some matters but rather oblivious in others. It had to be said, this indeed spared him a lot of trouble.
"A Yuan, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong with me?" Leng Yaozhu asked, puzzled as she gazed at Jing Shaoyu.
"Not at all," Jing Shaoyu feigned ignorance, "Teacher, you're as beautiful as ever today."
"Such a smooth talker!" Leng Yaozhu raised an elegant eyebrow before asking, "Did Yun Ming and Ya Li give you anything for protection?"
"Yes, they did," Jing Shaoyu nodded and said, "Look, it's these two bracelets."
He raised both hands, bringing them close to Leng Yaozhu's eyes. As his sleeves slid down, they revealed a green and a red jade bracelet. Naturally, Leng Yaozhu's gaze fell upon the two bracelets. As a Limit Douluo, she could easily sense the immense energy contained within them.
She couldn't help but nod in satisfaction, saying, "Not bad. It seems Yun Ming and the others truly value you."
The two jade bracelets Jing Shaoyu wore were imprinted with Yun Ming's ninth Soul Skill and Ya Li's ninth Soul Skill—one being the strongest offensive skill and the other the most potent healing skill. Unless a Limit Douluo targeted him, it would be nearly impossible to kill him in a short time.
Leng Yaozhu stared at the two bracelets, her expression somewhat dazed. Seeing this, Jing Shaoyu casually remarked, "Teacher, if someone from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda were to collude with Evil Soul Masters, what would the consequences be?"
"Hmm?" Leng Yaozhu instinctively turned to Jing Shaoyu and asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this? Do you know something? The Spirit Transfer Pagoda is a law-abiding federal organization. If anyone from the Pagoda were found colluding with Evil Soul Masters, the Hall of Judgement would not hesitate to execute them."
"Oh, what if it were the Pagoda Master who colluded with Evil Soul Masters?" Jing Shaoyu continued, his expression calm.
"That would depend on the level of the Pagoda Master," Leng Yaozhu replied. "If it were an ordinary Pagoda Master, I could directly punish him. But if it were the Sky Pillar Tower Master, he would need to be tried by the Spirit Transfer Council before facing proper punishment."
She explained this seriously to Jing Shaoyu, her eyes flickering with thought.
"I see," Jing Shaoyu said, feigning sudden understanding. He didn't push further, as a normal person wouldn't even consider such a possibility—that Qiangu Dongfeng, the Pagoda Master, would collude with Evil Soul Masters to target Shrek Academy.
This was something that would bring more harm than good to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda. Any rational Pagoda Master wouldn't do such a thing.
Why would the Federation want to destroy Shrek Academy? Because Shrek Academy's existence severely undermined the Federation's centralization of power and authority. Why would the Holy Spirit Church want to destroy Shrek Academy? Because Shrek Academy championed the eradication of Evil Soul Masters. Why would the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy want to destroy Shrek Academy? Because rivals are enemies, especially when they've been rivals for millennia.
But why would the Spirit Transfer Pagoda want to destroy Shrek Academy? Oh, because the Sea God Pavilion Master stole the heart of the Pagoda's Deputy Master, and the Pagoda Master was jealous, so he wanted to destroy Shrek Academy? That's just absurd!
Jing Shaoyu couldn't figure out what Qiangu Dongfeng's motive for destroying Shrek Academy could be. From the original story's later developments, the Spirit Transfer Pagoda didn't gain more benefits or become stronger after Shrek Academy's downfall.
Could it really be a case of love-addled thinking, like some reincarnation of Bibi Dong?
"A Yuan, why are you asking these things? If you ever find someone from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda colluding with Evil Soul Masters or engaging in other illegal, socially harmful activities, you can tell me directly," Leng Yaozhu said. "I can handle it."
"I haven't found anything yet, but if I do in the future, I'll definitely report it to you, Teacher," Jing Shaoyu replied with a smile.
About an hour later, Xu Xiaoyan successfully fused with her Soul Spirit, becoming a genuine Soul Grandmaster. Her Soul Power directly reached level 43, showing just how much she had benefited from the celestial energy surge at the Celestial Star Academy.
The little girl was overjoyed, hugging Jing Shaoyu and jumping up and down several times.
After returning from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda to Shrek Academy, Jing Shaoyu didn't idle around and immediately headed to Sea God Island.
"Teacher, Madam," Jing Shaoyu greeted respectfully upon seeing Yun Ming and Ya Li.
"Ah Yu, you must be tired from the exams. Come here, let Madam help you relax," Ya Li said with tender affection in her eyes, her voice soft as she reached out and took Jing Shaoyu's right hand. A faint green light spread from her delicate hand to his.
Jing Shaoyu felt his spirits lift, his mind becoming exceptionally clear, his senses sharpened, and a sense of comfort washing over him.
"Level 48 Soul Power, hmm, barely passable, but still not enough," Yun Ming glanced at Jing Shaoyu and immediately assessed his cultivation level before speaking.
"Ming, you're being too harsh on Ah Yu!" Before Jing Shaoyu could respond, Ya Li interjected, "Where in the entire Federation is there a 14-year-old Soul Grandmaster at level 48? Ah Yu, don't listen to your teacher. The path of cultivation requires balance. You've just finished your final exams; it's fine to relax for a few days."
"Madam, I understand," Jing Shaoyu replied with a sunny smile, "Teacher has high expectations of me, and that's because he believes in me! Huh? Why haven't I seen Na'er?"
Jing Shaoyu was puzzled. Whenever he came to the island, Na'er would always appear before him immediately. Why hadn't she shown up today?
"Na'er is in seclusion within the roots of the Golden Tree," Yun Ming explained.
"Ah?" Jing Shaoyu was taken aback, then sighed in disappointment, "I was planning to take her home during the break. It seems it'll have to wait until next time."
Jing Shaoyu's words caused both Yun Ming and Ya Li to react. Ya Li said, "Yes, after your finals, you'll have a month-long break. Ah Yu, you're planning to return to East Sea City, right? It's time to go back and visit. As for Na'er…"
Ya Li looked at Yun Ming, who, seeing his wife's gaze, felt a sense of helplessness. He said, "Na'er should be able to come out of seclusion in about half a month. I'll personally escort her to East Sea City then."
"That's great!" Jing Shaoyu was delighted, "My mom and aunt haven't seen Na'er in four or five years. They were so happy when they found out I'd found her."
The first semester's final exams for the first-year students had concluded. Due to the higher average strength of this year's first-year class, supplemented by the scores of Jing Shaoyu's group, no students were eliminated. It was a joyous outcome for everyone.
Thanks to the glorious victory of Jing Shaoyu's team over the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, coupled with the fact that all students passed their first final exams, this year's first-year class, despite having only completed one semester, was already hailed as the strongest in Shrek Academy's history in a century. They were the talk of the academy.
After a brief summary of the semester, Shen Yi announced the start of the holiday, granting the students a month-long break.
In the class committee's team room, Jing Shaoyu, Gu Yue, Xu Xiaoyan, Ye Xinglan, Wu Siduo, and Mo Hentian gathered together. Na'er, still in seclusion, was absent from the team's final activity of the semester.
"What are everyone's plans for the holiday? Going home or staying at the academy?" Jing Shaoyu looked at his five companions and asked.
"I'm going home," Xu Xiaoyan said first. "Hehe, I can't wait to see Xu Xiaoyu's expression when he finds out I've become a Soul Grandmaster. What about you, Shaoyu?"
"I'm going home too," Wu Siduo said, looking at Jing Shaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan. "You're heading back to Donghai City, right? We're on the same route, so we can go together."
"Great!" Xu Xiaoyan immediately clapped her hands in agreement.
Ye Xinglan said, "I plan to go home first to fuse with my Soul Spirit, then I'll go into seclusion to practice my sword techniques."
"I'm going home," Mo Hentian said.
Gu Yue said, "I'll go home first, then return to the Spirit Transfer Pagoda for further training. The holiday is only a month long, after all."
"Are you going home too, Sister Gu Yue? Then let's go together," Xu Xiaoyan suggested.
"No need," Gu Yue refused. She noticed Jing Shaoyu looking at her and turned her head away, avoiding his gaze.
Jing Shaoyu felt helpless but didn't press further. "Alright, since everyone is planning to go home, let's set off. See you all next semester!"
Ye Xinglan and Mo Hentian left first, while Xu Xiaoyan and Wu Siduo went back to their dorm to pack. Jing Shaoyu, however, was caught by Gu Yue.
"I want you to walk me to the academy gate," Gu Yue said.
"With pleasure," Jing Shaoyu replied with a slight smile.
Not just the first-year students, but all grades were on holiday, so the academy was unusually quiet and deserted. Jing Shaoyu and Gu Yue walked along the main path of the academy, their hands tightly clasped, fingers interlocked, walking in silence without a word.
When they reached the academy gate and stepped outside, they stopped and looked into each other's eyes. Jing Shaoyu flashed a bright smile and said, "Go on, see you next semester."
"Mm!" Gu Yue looked into Jing Shaoyu's passionate gaze, her cheeks flushing. She stood on her tiptoes and lightly kissed his lips, then whispered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "Goodbye."
Then, she let go of Jing Shaoyu's hand and turned to run away. But how could Jing Shaoyu be satisfied with just that? He pulled her back into his arms, held her close, and captured her delicate lips in a domineering kiss.
Gu Yue's body stiffened at first, then she weakly resisted, but eventually, she actively responded.
The two passionately kissed at the entrance of Shrek Academy, completely ignoring the gazes of passersby. It wasn't until Gu Yue's face turned red and she was nearly out of breath that Jing Shaoyu reluctantly let her go.
Once released, Gu Yue didn't hesitate to shake off Jing Shaoyu's hand and ran away, quickly boarding a black luxury car and disappearing from Jing Shaoyu's sight.
Jing Shaoyu watched the car drive away, touching his lips with a hint of longing. Hmm, it's a different taste from Na'er's. Then he noticed the black car. It seemed Di Tian and the others were doing quite well in the Federation!
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