Returning to Shrek, Breaking Through to Soul Elder

"Hey, time for breakfast!"

Ye Xinglan carried a small tray with bread and milk, pushed the door open, and bustled into the room.

The room was empty. Ye Xinglan walked inside, looking around with curiosity, when she felt a light tap on her back.

Yun Ze wiped the water from his face and looked at Ye Xinglan.

"You didn't wake up too late, not bad. At least you knew to get me something to eat."

Ye Xinglan set the tray down on a nearby table and said with a touch of haughtiness, "Who had the heart to get you food? I just... took too much at the dining car and couldn't finish it. Yes, that's it, I took too much and didn't want to waste it. You're just a living trash can, don't read too much into it."

Yun Ze smiled and said, "So you took extra only after finishing your own, right?"

Ye Xinglan sat on a nearby chair and watched as Yun Ze also sat down to start eating the bread.

"About yesterday... thank you. I've been thinking about our fight, and I really gained a lot."

Yun Ze nodded, then said to Ye Xinglan, "If you can think that way, that's great. It means my afternoon yesterday wasn't wasted."

As he spoke, Yun Ze took a sip of milk and added, "Until your strength reaches a certain level, don't go thinking you're some big shot. Don't be fooled by how ordinary people flatter soul masters."

Ye Xinglan nodded and said politely, "My vision was too narrow before. I didn't understand that there is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky."

Yun Ze waved his hand and looked at the train's schedule.

"We still have to spend the morning on the train, then head to the Xu Family branch in Skyfire City. I heard that branch produced a food-system genius."

Ye Xinglan said, "I've heard of that food-system kid too. My family said his martial soul has something to do with steamed buns, and everything he produces is some kind of bun."

"But I also heard he's so obsessed with his own martial soul that he's a total glutton. He's the type who would lose all sense of shame just for a bite to eat."

Yun Ze rubbed his temples and said, "What a headache. If he's really like that, he shouldn't enter the Inner Court. Let him muddle through in the Outer Court."

Ye Xinglan smiled and said, "Then he's basically destined to stay in the Outer Court."

Upon arriving in Skyfire City, Yun Ze was not as polite when dealing with the Xu Family as he had been with the Ye Family.

After a brief assessment of Xu Lizhi's situation, he told the Xu Family bluntly that he was not qualified for the Inner Court.

The flaws in his martial soul were too obvious; he would have to stay in the Outer Court first to see if the impact of his martial soul on his temperament could be resolved later.

The Xu Family had no objections to this result; it seemed they were eager to get rid of the trouble that was Xu Lizhi.

They paid the enrollment fee even more readily than the Ye Family.

On the way back, Xu Lizhi didn't say a word, seemingly intimidated by Yun Ze's presence.

Seeing Xu Lizhi like this, Ye Xinglan paid him even less mind, focusing her attention instead on Yun Ze, who was resting with his eyes closed.

The journey didn't trigger any "train killer" incidents or similar anomalies, and the Soul Guidance Train pulled smoothly into the station at Shrek City.

This also marked the official "conclusion" of Yun Ze's mission.

Yun Ze brought Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi back to Shrek Academy and submitted his verification results to the admissions office.

Partly out of trust in Yun Ze's ability and partly to give face to Yun Ming, all of Yun Ze's recommendations were accepted.

Xu Lizhi had no choice but to stay in the Outer Court as a freshman, waiting for the enrollment period to join the first-year class with the new batch of students.

Ye Xinglan entered the Special Recruitment Class of the Inner Court, which served as a transitional class between the Inner and Outer Courts.

The intensity of this Special Recruitment Class was roughly on par with the highest level of the Outer Court, but the teaching staff was strictly from the Inner Court.

However, Ye Xinglan only had about two years to adapt; if she couldn't keep up after that, she would have to return to the Outer Court to continue her studies.

After the mission ended, Yun Ze was summoned back to Yun Ming's residence.

Over the past few days, Na'er had become familiar with Yun Ming. When Yun Ze returned, Na'er was in the courtyard practicing basic spear techniques.

Yun Ze watched as Na'er held a wooden spear with a brick tied to the tip, practicing the steadiness of her hands.

"Na'er seems to have very steady hands. This core strength is a good foundation."

As he spoke, Yun Ze walked behind Na'er, held her hands, and adjusted her posture.

Since Yun Ming and Guan Yue shared the same lineage, their spear techniques had different nuances in their later understanding, but the basics were universally applicable.

Yun Ze's guidance was very helpful to Na'er; her body, which had been slightly trembling from stiffness, became much steadier.

"You child, acting like a senior apprentice brother the moment you get back. Come inside and talk."

Yun Ming's voice echoed from the room. Yun Ze smiled at Na'er and then quickly walked into the room.

Yun Ming sat beside the coffee table in the main room, holding a cup of hot tea in his hand and savoring it.

"How was the trip? I heard you took the opportunity to evaluate those two disciples and even categorized them?"

Yun Ming looked at Yun Ze, set down his teacup, and gestured for him to sit down.

Yun Ze sat beside Yun Ming and said gently, "To answer you, Father, that Ye Xinglan is quite good. Although her temperament is a bit unruly, I have managed to tame her to some extent. As for that Xu Lizhi, if it were truly up to me—"

"He is not suitable to be brought into Shrek Academy. His martial soul affects his temperament, causing him to be this gluttonous at less than ten years old. If it were just gluttony, that would be one thing, but the key is that his gluttony has actually caused issues with his intelligence."

"Many times, for the sake of food, he doesn't consider his own safety at all. This kind of person is simply not suited to step into the soul master world; he is better off staying at home as a wealthy landlord."

Yun Ming nodded and said to Yun Ze, "The Xu Family has reported this situation to us as well, but they have made quite a few contributions to our academy over the years."

"We should help if we can. I believe our academy is not so incompetent that it cannot even correct a simple temperament issue."

Yun Ze shrugged and said, "You are just too soft-hearted. Everything should be handled on a case-by-case basis. His contributions are his contributions; we can compensate him for them later, but that is no reason to open a back door for his descendants."

Yun Ming waved his hand and then said to Yun Ze, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about that. Now, we should discuss your own affairs."

Yun Ze straightened his expression, and then he heard Yun Ming arrange, "Tomorrow, Spirit Pagoda Pagoda Master Qiangu Dongfeng will be heading out to inspect several main branches, leaving the vice pagoda master, Bright Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu, in charge of the headquarters. You can use this time to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform to raise your spirit..."