The Three-Year Agreement Has Come Due

"Let me introduce myself again. I'm Dai Yueheng."

The match had ended. Dai Yueheng no longer looked as bedraggled as he had inside the ice prison. He carried himself with ease, a gentle smile on his face that made people instinctively feel close to him.

As the Son of the Duke, he had been raised from childhood as the future Duke White Tiger. His conduct and manners were indeed impeccable.

"Hello, I'm Wang Nan."

"I noticed how extraordinary your strength was during our last mission. We haven't met for a year, yet you've improved so much again, Junior Brother."

"Not at all. Senior Brother, your ability to fight many opponents alone in that match just now truly impressed me."

Wang Nan had merely followed Dai Yueheng's words and offered him a compliment, with no other intention. Yet Dai Yueheng still thought of certain other matters upon hearing it and did not continue with the subject.

"Where are you from, Junior Brother?"

"My home is in Star Luo City."

"What a coincidence. My home is also near Star Luo City. When you have time, you should come visit."

"Sure, definitely next time."

Dai Yueheng had not entered Shrek Academy merely to study. Everyone admitted to Shrek possessed outstanding talent, and even those who failed to graduate were far stronger than ordinary Soul Masters. Thus, he paid close attention to the other students so that he could recruit them in the future.

After entering the academy, Wang Nan had never displayed any background behind him. His performance during their last mission had also left a deep impression on Dai Yueheng. Coupled with the fact that he was from the Star Luo Empire, Dai Yueheng could not help but entertain a few other thoughts.

"Then it's settled. You must come sometime in the future."

While Wang Nan and Dai Yueheng exchanged pleasantries, the other three also began chatting among themselves.

Aside from Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen, the remaining disciple was named Xixi. She had crossed paths with Wang Nan once during the New Student Assessment.

She had remained not because she was particularly strong, but because she ran fast. Dai Yueheng could not catch her and could only eliminate the others first.

Gongyang Mo seemed to possess a kind of magic. He quickly got along with the girls, and even Ling Luochen and Xixi, who were both relatively quiet, chatted with him quite congenially.

Not long afterward, two familiar figures appeared in the Soul Fighting Zone.

There was no need to mention Ma Xiaotao. The other was Ye Xiaosheng from the Soul Tool Department.

Ever since his last fight with Wang Nan, Ye Xiaosheng had shamelessly latched onto him. Though he was older than Wang Nan, he still called him "Brother" at every turn, all so he could hear more novel ideas about Soul Tools from Wang Nan.

The Soul Tool Shock Cannon used in this match had been made by Ye Xiaosheng after hearing Wang Nan's suggestion.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, I'll get straight to the point." Xuan Zi set down the item in his hand, and a rare seriousness appeared on his face. "You were selected to participate in the once-every-five-years All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition."

"Ten Thousand Years Ago, the First Generation Shrek Seven Monsters represented Shrek and won the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition, laying the foundation for our academy to become the number one academy. The name Shrek Seven Monsters spread far and wide as a result."

"With the emergence of Soul Tools, the Elite Competition of old became the current Soul Fighting Competition. However, the academy's tradition has not changed. Every contestant who participates in the Soul Fighting Competition will be granted the title of Shrek Seven Monsters."

"However, at your current age and strength, you cannot compete as official contestants. You can only serve as reserve contestants. Over these five years, you must also improve yourselves as much as possible. If your strength falls behind, you may lose the opportunity to fight for the academy when the time comes."

"Starting today, you will cultivate with me one day each week, until the Soul Fighting Competition begins a month from now. Alright, you're dismissed for today."

After leaving the Soul Fighting Zone, everyone went their separate ways. Wang Nan returned to the dormitory with Gongyang Mo.

Not long after returning, a knock suddenly sounded outside the door.

"You are?"

Wang Nan opened the door and found a young man standing outside.

"Greetings, honored guest. I'm from Gathering Treasures Pavilion's customer service."

"Gathering Treasures Pavilion?"

Wang Nan had the resources Ma Xiaotao had brought him, so he was not particularly lacking in basic items. As for expensive things, he could not afford them. Thus, he had barely visited Gathering Treasures Pavilion during the past two years and genuinely had no idea why this person had come looking for him.

"You may have forgotten, honored guest, but you reserved an exhibit at our Gathering Treasures Pavilion. I came this time to deliver a message from the Pavilion Master."

"The Pavilion Master said that the Three-Year Agreement has come due."

Only then did Wang Nan remember. Back when he had just become a Core Disciple, Gathering Treasures Pavilion had held a Treasure Appraisal Fair for Core Disciples. There had been a Soul Bone that suited him quite well, but his credit limit had not been enough to buy it. Later, the Pavilion Master of Gathering Treasures Pavilion had personally stepped in and reserved it for him for three years.

Now that someone had come to find him, it was likely because he had been selected as a reserve contestant for the Soul Fighting Competition. In Gathering Treasures Pavilion's assessment, his credit limit was now sufficient to purchase that Soul Bone.

No wonder the Pavilion Master had insisted on setting a three-year deadline back then. It seemed this had also been part of that Pavilion Master's plan.

"Alright, I understand."

"Would you like to come with me, honored guest? The carriage is already waiting at the academy entrance."

Speaking of this, one had to mention Shrek City's strange layout. Shrek City had four gates in the east, south, west, and north. The East City Gate was exclusive to Shrek Academy, and passing through it meant entering Shrek Academy.

However, Shrek Academy had no other gates. That meant that to enter Shrek City from Shrek Academy, one first had to leave through the east gate, make a large detour, and then enter the city through one of the other three gates.

Who knew who had come up with such a layout.

Wang Nan had nothing else to do for the moment. Thinking about the distance between the gates, he ultimately accepted the customer service representative's suggestion.

The journey passed in silence.

By the time Wang Nan stepped down from the carriage, they had already arrived before Gathering Treasures Pavilion. Although no event was being held here, Soul Masters and Soul Engineers still came and went in an endless stream.

Following the stairs to the second floor, Wang Nan found the Pavilion Master already waiting there.

"It has been quite some time."

"Uh, thank you for thinking of me, Pavilion Master."

"Ha ha, come, sit down and let's talk." The Pavilion Master of the Gathering Treasures Pavilion beckoned, inviting Wang Nan to sit before her. "My surname is Lin. From now on, don't keep calling me Pavilion Master whenever we meet, lest people misunderstand."

"Alright, Elder Lin."

"Mm. I told you last time that as long as you met the standard within three years, not only could you buy this Soul Bone, I would also give you a gift." Lin Huiqun said, waving to someone behind her. "I wonder if you still remember?"

As she spoke, a woman behind Lin Huiqun stepped forward and placed a brocade box she was holding on the table.

"I'm not one to break my word. Though this item isn't some top-tier treasure, it is still quite rare and should be of considerable help to you. Open it and take a look."

Wang Nan did as instructed. A milky-white pearl lay quietly inside the brocade box.