Autumn gave way to winter, winter gave way to spring, and eight months passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, Xiao Xiao, Dai Hua Bin, Zhu Lu, and the others were nearing the end of their first school year at Shrek Academy.
Next came the break. Shrek Academy had one month of vacation every year, but it was by no means a time for students to relax and have fun. Instead, they were expected to consolidate everything they had learned over the previous eleven months and devote themselves to diligent cultivation.
Once the month-long break ended, the advancement exams would follow immediately. Students who failed the exams would be eliminated outright, so the annual vacation had instead become the busiest and most exhausting period for most students.
This year, Lin Yuan had just turned twelve. Compared with when he first enrolled, he had grown taller and shed the last traces of childishness. His long hair, tied back with a silver-white ribbon, fell over his shoulders and back. His deep purple eyes had gained a composed calmness through experience. His Soul Power remained at Rank 39, not because he could not break through, but because he was waiting for the energy from that four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation to push his Soul Ring to its limit as well.
When he left the cafeteria, night had already fallen. In late spring, the drizzling rain brought waves of chill, and the weather was truly unpleasant.
Yet Lin Yuan did not find the rain bothersome. Perhaps because he was an elemental controller, the fine raindrops automatically curved away whenever they approached him, not wetting even the corner of his clothes. He looked up at the dark sky, anticipation flickering in his purple eyes. In a few more days, he would be able to return to the Star Dou Great Forest.
"What are you dawdling for? The rain's getting heavier!" Wang Dong hurried after him beneath an umbrella, tilting most of it toward Lin Yuan and leaving half her own shoulder exposed to the rain.
Seeing this, Lin Yuan casually waved a hand. A gentle current of wind element supported the edge of the umbrella, steadily blocking the rain above both of them.
"No need for an umbrella." He chuckled and walked forward lightly. "This little rain can't get me wet."
Wang Dong froze for a moment. Looking at the suddenly still curtain of rain beneath the umbrella, then at Lin Yuan's dry silver-white hair, she could not help muttering, "Weirdo."
Though she said that, she still hurried after him and put away her umbrella. With a free moving rain shelter available, who would bother holding an umbrella?
The two walked side by side along the wet stone path, the crisp patter of raindrops striking the ground pleasant to hear.
Wang Dong kicked at a small puddle by the roadside and suddenly asked, "Are you going home after the break?"
After spending so much time together, Wang Dong had learned part of Lin Yuan's circumstances. When she found out that he was an orphan who had always lived alone, her gaze toward him gained a hint of subtle gentleness.
Lin Yuan slowed slightly, gazing at the outline of Sea God Lake blurred by rain. His tone was light. "More or less. I'm going back to a place where I can feel at ease." Everything in the Star Dou Great Forest had long become the truest meaning of "home" in his heart.
Wang Dong nodded. "Then I'm going home too. I'll try to come back early. You should be careful as well."
Lin Yuan turned to look at her, his purple eyes glowing softly through the rain. "Don't worry. I'm safer than you think. You, on the other hand, should stop sulking with your family."
Wang Dong's ears reddened. She turned away and kicked a small stone flying. "Who's sulking? I just... I just want to come back early to cultivate."
She sounded stubborn, but a faint, unnoticed sense of loss surfaced in her heart. Over the past year, she had grown used to sharing a room with Lin Yuan, to bickering with him every day, and to training together. At the thought of being apart for an entire month, she inexplicably felt empty inside.
The next morning was their final day as first-year students. Tomorrow, Shrek Academy's Outer Court would officially begin its break. After breakfast, Lin Yuan and Wang Dong arrived at the classroom early.
Before long, Zhou Yi and Wang Yan entered the classroom together. Whenever Zhou Yi was present, Class One's atmosphere was always solemn. Even with vacation beginning tomorrow, no one dared make trouble for this "Abbess Miejue." If she suddenly lost her temper, no one would be able to handle it.
Wang Yan walked up to the podium, while Zhou Yi went to the back of the classroom and sat in an empty chair.
"Students, today is the last day of your first year. The academy has not arranged any teaching tasks, so I'll only say a few things. After that, you can go back and pack your belongings."
The moment he finished speaking, the whole class erupted in cheers. Even with Zhou Yi present, no one could contain their excitement. Vacation was about to begin, and everyone wanted to return home as quickly as possible. Who would not want to see their family? Of course, that excluded those who had no family to worry about.
Wang Yan smiled and waited for the students' excitement to subside somewhat before continuing, "Over the past year, everyone has worked very hard. However, unlike the final exams held at the end of every school year in other academies, Shrek Academy does not have final exams. I believe you all understand why. Whether you can become qualified second-year students will be tested when the next school year begins. Now, I'll explain several key points regarding the advancement assessment. First, and this is something with absolutely no tricks involved, is pure strength—your Soul Power. To advance from the first year to the second year, every student must reach Rank 20 Soul Power."
"Having two Soul Rings does not mean you will definitely pass the advancement exam. Even Teacher Zhou and I do not yet know the specific content of the exam. At the same time, the advancement assessment is not only a matter for each of you individually; it also concerns our class. Class One must undergo advancement as well, and you will need to complete an additional class advancement assessment."
Everyone had understood what Wang Yan said before that, but when he mentioned "class advancement," the students were confused. What did class advancement mean?
Seeing this, Wang Yan explained calmly, "Every class is a whole. If the whole cannot advance, what use is it for the students to advance? In a sense, class advancement is an assessment of Teacher Zhou and me. During the class advancement assessment, three to seven students will be selected from our class to take part in a special test. The result of our class's advancement will be decided by how well you complete it..."
Once Wang Yan explained it, everyone immediately understood—and was also dumbfounded. The students who had thought they could relax properly during vacation were all shocked speechless. This was especially true for those with higher cultivation. They had thought passing next year's assessment would be no issue, yet they had not expected there to be a class assessment as well.
Naturally, Lin Yuan was not among them. With strength far beyond others of the same rank, he had long regarded the advancement assessment as something already in his grasp. He leaned lazily beside the window, his silver-white hair lifting gently in the morning breeze. His purple eyes were half-lidded, and though he appeared absentminded, he took in every word Wang Yan said. To him, the so-called class assessment was merely one more insignificant competition. What truly concerned him was the approaching break, and the four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation that could help him break through his bottleneck.
"That's all I have to say. Class dismissed. Go back and pack your things." Wang Yan waved a hand and announced the end of class.
The students of Class One stared blankly, their excitement completely gone. Although most of them possessed Century Soul Rings, how many of those rings had actually been obtained by hunting Soul Beasts themselves? Not to mention there was also the class assessment.
"Lin Yuan, Wang Dong, Huo Yu Hao, you three stay behind." Zhou Yi's cold voice rang out.
The three stopped. After the other students left, Wang Yan and Zhou Yi called them to the front of the podium.
"What do you think about the class assessment Teacher Wang mentioned?" Zhou Yi asked.
"Watch it standing up." Lin Yuan raised a brow, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing something entirely unrelated to him. "Pick three to seven people? No matter who is chosen, as long as I'm there, we'll pass the assessment."
Wang Dong immediately nodded in agreement, her pink-blue eyes filled with certainty. "Exactly. With Lin Yuan there, no assessment will be a problem."
Huo Yu Hao nodded as well and added softly, "My Spiritual Detection can scout out risks in advance. Combined with Lin Yuan and Wang Dong's attacks, we should be able to handle most situations. Of course, we should include Xiao Xiao too. She has Twin Martial Souls."
Wang Yan nodded. "The four of you will definitely participate when the time comes. We do not know the specific assessment content either. However, you need to work harder over the next month. Yu Hao, there won't be any problem with your breakthrough to two Soul Rings, right?"
Huo Yu Hao immediately shook his head. "I won't have any problems."
Zhou Yi said, "Next school year will be more demanding. I won't say anything else. You should all leave early and return early. I hope you can all come back ahead of time—the sooner, the better. Teacher Wang and I will probably learn the assessment content about ten days before the school year begins. If you return earlier, you can prepare in advance."
"Yes." Lin Yuan and the other two answered together.
"Go." Zhou Yi said.
"Goodbye, Teacher Zhou. Goodbye, Teacher Wang." The three spoke in unison, then turned and left the classroom.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Lin Yuan and Wang Dong walked along the path beside Sea God Lake. With storage Soul Tools, they naturally did not need to carry luggage. They walked slowly, neither of them speaking.
Mist shrouded Sea God Lake. The damp air was blown by the breeze against their bodies, leaving even their academy uniforms somewhat moist. Though the Lakeside Path was long, it eventually came to an end. As the morning sun gradually rose, the mist slowly dispersed.
"I'm leaving. Come back early. Watch me go." Wang Dong turned and said this to Lin Yuan, then ran toward the academy exit as if fleeing. She did not look back, but tears finally rolled uncontrollably from her eyes. Lin Yuan, you big idiot.
Lin Yuan watched Wang Dong's increasingly slender figure gradually disappear, a faint smile rising at the corner of his lips. Then he turned and looked at Shrek Academy's gate.
"Just wait. In one month, everything will be different..."
With that, Lin Yuan walked onward at an unhurried pace. The scenery around him gradually changed from bustling streets to tranquil countryside. Mountains rose and fell in the distance, dotted with lush green trees. He could not help quickening his pace toward the Star Dou Great Forest, his figure slowly vanishing at the end of the road.
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