A Rare Vacation

After hearing Yun Ze's assessment, Na'er nodded, then said to him,

"You're right, but it looks like you still haven't won."

Yun Ze shrugged and said,

"You really are in the mood for this. But in the end, this is just a spar. That's probably enough, isn't it?"

Na'er didn't answer him. Instead, she replied with a straight thrust.

Yun Ze could only spread his hands and mutter, What a pain. Then he crossed his two spears in front of his chest to block the thrust, before abruptly raising them and tapping Na'er's wrist with the Heaven-Propping Spear.

The tap made Na'er's hand sting, and the Silver Dragon Spear flew from her grasp. Yun Ze took the opportunity to press the Moon Sky Spear against her neck.

Yun Ze shook his head helplessly and said,

"So you admit you've lost this time?"

As he spoke, Yun Ze caught the falling Silver Dragon Spear between two fingers. Holding all three spears, he looked at Na'er.

Na'er sighed and said,

"I lost."

Yun Ze returned the Silver Dragon Spear to Na'er and put away his Heaven-Propping Spear and Heaven-Surpassing Spear Martial Souls. Then he said to her,

"This isn't your fault. I've been practicing spear techniques for two years, while you seem to have awakened your Martial Soul only recently. You're still not familiar enough with the spear in your hands."

Yun Ming watched with satisfaction as the spar between the two ended. He was very pleased with Yun Ze's performance.

After putting away his Martial Souls, Yun Ze turned to Yun Ming and asked,

"Father, does this mean the assessment is over?"

Yun Ming studied Yun Ze's expression. After a moment, he said hesitantly,

"What do you mean, Ze'er? That doesn't look like a simple question about the assessment."

Yun Ze smiled and said,

"Usually, when an assessment ends, doesn't that mean we get a little time off?"

Yun Ming was speechless. He rubbed his forehead and said,

"Your mother just went into seclusion, and you immediately want a vacation. You really are my good son."

Yun Ze smiled and said,

"Right, Mother's in seclusion. I'd forgotten. If I gave myself a little injury now, then when Mother comes out of seclusion..."

Yun Ming quickly covered Yun Ze's mouth and said,

"Stop right there. You want a vacation, fine. Ye Family Village has recommended a newcomer this time. Go see what she's like. If she's suitable, we can admit her as a special recruit to the Inner Court."

Yun Ze shrugged and said,

"You're the most heartless boss in the world. You don't even let your employees off when they're on vacation."

Yun Ming wore the same mischievous smile and said,

"What family business draws such a clear line between workdays and vacations? Go on, and come back quickly. When you return, I'll arrange a Spirit Ascension Ceremony for you. You've been stuck at the second ring for long enough. It's time to step into the Soul Elder realm."

Yun Ze sighed. There was nothing he could do but accept Yun Ming's capitalist behavior. At least, it counted as a rare vacation.

At least once he left Shrek Academy, he could decide for himself whether to slack off or head straight to his destination.

Yun Ze already had a plan in mind, so he returned to his room to rest.

Early the next morning, Yun Ze was dressed and had arrived at the Soul Guidance Train terminal in Shrek City.

There weren't many trains at that hour. Only a few overnight trains had just pulled into the station.

Yun Ze didn't need to buy a ticket. After showing his Inner Court ID card, he went to the first-class compartment reserved for Shrek and caught up on some sleep.

He slept until nearly noon, when the announcement that the Soul Guidance Train had arrived woke him. Yun Ze stood up and stretched his arms and legs.

The bed in the first-class compartment was actually quite comfortable. It was only a little worse than the bed in his room, and overall, it was still an excellent place to sleep.

After getting off the train, Yun Ze arrived in Fengxing City.

It was a major city in the central part of the Federation's western region. Ye Family Village lay within the city, a little farther to the west.

It was a typical urban village. It sounded rather run-down, but in reality, it was astonishingly prosperous.

It was called Ye Family Village solely to commemorate the original Ye Family Village.

As for the present-day village, its buildings were no different from those in an ordinary city.

Yun Ze didn't hurry into Ye Family Village. Instead, he first went to a branch of Yuhao Grilled Fish nearby and had a meal.

Only after eating his fill did Yun Ze enter Ye Family Village.

The girl unanimously recommended by the whole village was already waiting at the venue.

The girl's name was naturally Ye Xinglan, one of the original protagonist group.

He had heard that she was the first person in a thousand years to awaken the Stargod Sword from the Starlight Sword, and that she had awakened with a wisp of sword intent.

Yun Ze was skeptical of such grandiose claims, or at least he had to appear skeptical in public.

After entering the venue in Ye Family Village, Yun Ze met Ye Xinglan.

At the center of the venue sat a girl with long golden hair, large blue eyes, and fair, delicate skin.

Ye Xinglan was wearing a neat, light-green training outfit. Her legs were crossed naturally in front of her, and she was staring intently at the venue.

When Yun Ze entered, a look of disbelief appeared in Ye Xinglan's eyes. Then she asked tentatively,

"Who are you?"

Looking at the girl before him, Yun Ze spoke first.

"You're Ye Xinglan, right?"

An old man then walked out from backstage and bowed slightly to Yun Ze. He asked respectfully,

"This is the girl, Ye Xinglan. May I ask if you're from Shrek?"

Yun Ze replied,

"I'm a disciple of the Shrek Inner Court, and I'm also the examiner for Miss Ye Xinglan's admission to the Shrek Inner Court."

The old man hurriedly nodded, his manner even more courteous. Ye Xinglan also stood up.

In this era, Shrek Academy was the undisputed authority in the Soul Master World. Even though Yun Ze was only a twenty-ninth-level Soul Grandmaster, the moment he revealed his status as a disciple of the Shrek Inner Court, it was enough to awe the two people before him.

Ye Xinglan looked at Yun Ze, who was about her age, and said timidly,

"Hello, I'm Ye Xinglan."

Yun Ze nodded, glanced around the venue, and said,

"This place is big enough."

As he spoke, Yun Ze suddenly drew the Heaven-Propping Spear and said to Ye Xinglan,

"Come on, let's spar. I want to see if you're really as impressive as they say."

The sight left Ye Xinglan completely dumbfounded. She looked at Yun Ze and asked,

"Does the assessment mean we just fight?"

Yun Ze rested the Heaven-Propping Spear on his shoulder and said,

"That's how it works at Shrek. And what else should a Soul Master Academy test if not a Soul Master's combat ability? The teachers can consider your character later. As the examiner,"

"My job is to check whether your talent is really as good as described, and whether you live up to the claims..."