Gu Yue

At the edge of the field, Ye Yingluo tapped her toes and rose into the air, caught Zhang Yangzi by the lapels, and brought him down in a steady landing. Behind her, the light and shadow of a Purple Fox condensed, while five soul rings—two yellow and three purple—slowly pulsed around her.

Zhang Yangzi's face was pale as he gasped for breath, his eyes dim and unfocused. This battle with Yu Nanyuan had almost completely crushed the confidence and pride he had built up over the years.

This world was vast. He was nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well.

"I... lost." Zhang Yangzi lifted his head and looked at Yu Nanyuan, a little light returning to his eyes. He had not lost his spirit completely because of this. Losing to Yu Nanyuan, whose talent was better than his, was, in the end, a bit easier to accept.

And just now, Yu Nanyuan had defeated him with his strongest soul skill, showing him enough respect. Yu Nanyuan had truly treated him as an opponent on the same level.

So while this crushing defeat had dealt Zhang Yangzi an unprecedented blow, it had also inspired him.

Ye Yingluo looked at Zhang Yangzi with approval. To have such a temperament at only nine years old was far better than she had been back then. Even if Zhang Yangzi's future prospects could not compare to Yu Nanyuan, who seemed blessed by the heavens, he would definitely grow to a height beyond her imagination.

"Yangzi—" Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng hurried onto the stage to support Zhang Yangzi. Arrogant and sharp-tongued as Wei Xiaofeng was, he treated his friends with a sincere heart. In truth, everyone was complicated. They could not simply be labeled good or bad.

Zhang Yangzi shook his head.

"Jinxi, Xiaofeng, I'm fine."

Yu Nanyuan also stepped forward and came before Zhang Yangzi. The two immediately looked at each other and smiled. No more words were needed. Their thoughts had already been fully conveyed to each other in that duel just now.

Looking at this group of children, a smile from the heart could not help appearing at the corners of Ye Yingluo's mouth.

"The final, Yu Nanyuan wins. You all performed very well. Today's practical combat class ends here. This afternoon, you may move about freely. However, starting tomorrow, you must follow the academy's requirements. Ordinarily, aside from the weekly Public Holiday, you are not allowed to leave the academy without permission."

At this point, the smile on Ye Yingluo's face slowly disappeared, and she became obsessive once again.

"Also, regarding Yu Nanyuan's Martial Soul Ability, I hope you won't spread it around for the time being. According to our Eastsea Academy's usual practice, three months after the new semester begins, a Promotion Tournament will be held, for both the Middle Division and the Advanced Division. The Promotion Tournament starts with the weakest class, which selects students to issue challenges. For example, among the first-year freshmen, Class Five starts by challenging Class Four, and so on. If the challenge succeeds, the class numbers are swapped. As Freshman Class One, we will only be challenged by the classes behind us."

"If we keep Yu Nanyuan's Martial Soul Ability temporarily confidential, we will naturally be more certain of preserving Freshman Class One's number. You all know that the further ahead a class's number is, the better the resources and treatment it enjoys. This concerns everyone's honor and immediate interests."

"Yes, Teacher Ye." After thinking it over briefly, the students of Freshman Class One all agreed decisively. After all, what Ye Yingluo said made a lot of sense, and they also wanted to see what wonderful expressions the other classes would have when they came to challenge them and saw Yu Nanyuan's two purple Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

Ye Yingluo nodded in satisfaction. Then, holding her documents under her arm, she twisted her slender waist and left Training Field Number One.

"All right, class dismissed."

Yu Nanyuan's gaze fell on Ye Yingluo's graceful figure as she walked farther and farther away, and he understood. He knew that Ye Yingluo was doing this deliberately, most likely to strike at Wu Zhangkong.

However, if Gu Yue did not come to Eastsea Academy the way she had in his Past Life Memory, then with Tang Wulin and Xie Xie alone, they would probably have very little chance of challenging their Freshman Class One.

Just then, Zhang Yangzi, whose condition had recovered quite a bit, suddenly stretched out his right hand and patted Yu Nanyuan on the shoulder.

"Nanyuan, you're a local of Eastsea City. You should know better than anyone what good food and fun places there are here. Official classes start tomorrow. Since we have time this afternoon, let's go out and have some fun together. My treat. How about it?"

"Of course we can go out and have fun together. But as the host, this time it has to be my treat," Yu Nanyuan said with a smile.

Zhang Yangzi laughed loudly.

"No problem. Then I'll treat next time."

Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng exchanged a surprised glance. They discovered that after Zhang Yangzi lost to Yu Nanyuan, the relationship between the two had instead grown even closer.

The four walked together, and Yu Nanyuan noticed Lei Ge off to the side. He simply spoke up and invited him. "Lei Ge, come hang out with us too. I remember your home is over in East City. That should be where there are the most places to eat, drink, and have fun, right?"

"Y-yes!" Lei Ge was startled at first, then nodded repeatedly in pleasant surprise.

"My home is over there, so I know it really well. I know a hidden Snack Street. There's a Fried Chicken Shop on that street that tastes really good. I like going there the most, ordering a big portion of fried chicken and pairing it with fresh Watermelon Juice."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go together," Zhang Yangzi decided on the spot. Having personally witnessed Yu Nanyuan's terrifying talent and strength, the arrogance in Wei Xiaofeng's heart had restrained itself a great deal. Besides, they were all the same age, so it was easy for them to start having fun together.

Overall, the atmosphere among the group of five was quite harmonious.

And by sheer coincidence, when Yu Nanyuan and the other four walked out of Eastsea Academy, he happened to see Tang Wulin leaving in a hurry. Beside Tang Wulin was a cold-faced youth—Xie Xie, who had been knocked unconscious by Tang Wulin's punch yesterday. The two seemed to be walking in the direction of Donghai Park.

Yu Nanyuan's gaze paused briefly on Tang Wulin and Xie Xie, then he withdrew it without much concern.

Just like in his Past Life Memory, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie were probably preparing to fight another match at Donghai Park. After that, Tang Wulin would be stabbed by Xie Xie's Light Dragon Dagger, and the Golden Dragon King Bloodline within his body would also be stimulated and awaken on its own for the first time.

The two groups were heading in exactly opposite directions.

At the same time, on the coastline east of Eastsea City, the fine golden beach was invaded by wave after wave, and the azure sea and blue sky seemed to meet at the distant horizon.

A girl who looked about the same age as Yu Nanyuan was standing on the beach, gazing out over the endless blue sea. She was not especially beautiful, only delicate and pretty. She had long black hair, black eyes, and a very well-proportioned figure. Yet deep within her eyes, there seemed to be a special kind of texture.

Behind her stood a number of people of various forms, each with extremely distinct characteristics.

At their head was a middle-aged man dressed in a black robe. He was handsome and resolute, with two locks of golden hair hanging down on either side of his cheeks. He could not help calling softly.

"My lord."

With that person's presence at Shrek Academy, even with his strength, he did not dare force his way in to take his lord away. Moreover, he feared even more that exposing his identity would affect the later plan. In the end, his lord could only escape by splitting herself while preserving her main personality. He just did not know why his lord insisted on coming here.

And just then, the middle-aged man and a voluptuous purple-haired woman beside him suddenly trembled uncontrollably, then abruptly turned to look in the direction of Eastsea City.

The original coldness on the black-haired girl's face had long since vanished, replaced by shock and disbelief.

"Is that its aura?!"