Final Exam
"Match over! First grade wins!"
The referee's voice echoed through the Soul Fighting Arena, and deafening cheers erupted from the stands.
Yun Jingheng stood still, the Moonlight Sword already sheathed, and the five Soul Ring slowly disappeared into his body.
His clothes were dusty, and the sleeve of his left arm was torn open by the force of the punch, leaving his hand split open.
Yuanen Yehui gasped for breath, sweat mixed with dust sliding down his face, his clothes covered with marks left by sword energy and frost.
A hand appeared in front of her eyes, Yuanen Yehui looked up in surprise.
It is Yun Jingheng.
After hesitating for a moment, she reached out and took his hand.
Yun Jingheng pulled hard, Yuanen Yehui used the leverage to stand up.
She gave a self-deprecating laugh, "Impressive. If you weren't so weak, I wouldn't have had the strength to resist at all."
Yun Jingheng released her hand. "Come on, a flaw is a flaw. If you don't acknowledge it, you'll never go far."
"You have a very open-minded perspective."
"Hey! The match is over! Let go of me!"
Tang Wulin, who was supporting Xie Xie, was taken aback and turned to look at the rice dumpling at Xu Xiaoyan's feet.
"They're here!"
"Huh--?"
Xu Xiaoyan looked down at the large green cocoon still wriggling at her feet, blinked, as if she had just remembered that there was such a person.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I forgot!"
She crouched down and frantically tried to pluck the Blue Silver Grass.
But Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass was too tightly bound; she tried to pull it off but couldn't. Instead, she pressed Yue Zhengyu down onto the ground again.
"Are you untying or strangling me?" Yue Zhengyu's voice came from inside the cocoon, muffled and filled with obvious resentment.
"I'm untying it!" Xu Xiaoyan puffed out her cheeks and pulled hard.
"Ouch—that's my arm!"
"... oh."
"Alright! Stop arguing! Come here!"
Cai Yue'er's voice wasn't loud, but the Soul Fighting Arena fell silent instantly.
She stood in the center of the field, holding a name list in her hand, her eyes scanning the lines on both sides.
The referee stepped aside, leaving the stage to her.
"The final result of the first and second grade exchange match—" she paused, "The first grade won two to one."
Although the result was already known, applause still erupted from the stands when it was officially announced.
Cai Yue'er ignored the applause and continued speaking.
"According to the college's regulations, the winner of the exchange competition will have priority in resource allocation for the following semester."
She glanced down at the list, her brow furrowing slightly as if confirming something, then looked up. "With the academy's approval, for the remainder of this semester and the entire next semester, all cultivation resources for first and second-year students, including but not limited to permits to use the Soul Fighting Arena, priority access to the Spirit Ascension Platform, high-level Soul Tool, and access to the third floor of the library, will be allocated entirely to first-year students."
The entire audience erupted in uproar.
"All?"
Lu Shuyao's eyes widened. "Not just a part, but the whole thing?"
Cai Yue'er glanced at him. "You have a problem with that? Then go and complain to the Sea God Pavilion."
Lu Shuyao silently shut her mouth.
Yuanen Yehui didn't speak; her expression held a hint of relief.
A loss is a loss, and it's only right that resources be given to the winner.
She just hadn't expected the academy to be so completely biased—not just a part of it.
Yue Zhengyu, who had just been freed from the Blue Silver Grass, froze upon hearing these words.
"Does that mean we won't get anything for the next year and a half?"
Bai Hanying sighed softly, without complaining, and simply bathed quietly in Ya Li's wide-range healing Soul Skill.
Ye Xingmo stood at the back of the line, his gaze fixed on his younger sister, Ye Xinglan, a slight smile playing on his lips. He could afford to lose.
On the first-grade side, Xie Xie's eyes were wide open like saucers.
"All of them? Really?"
Tang Wulin was also stunned.
He knew that winning would bring preferential treatment in terms of resources, but he didn't expect it to be to this extent.
"Disband."
Cai Yue'er turned and left.
Lu Shuyao was the first to break down. "A year and a half! My tail feathers haven't even fully grown in yet, and the resources are gone!"
"What does your tail hair have to do with resources?" Yue Zhengyu said irritably.
"I shed fur when I'm in a bad mood!"
"... Then you should get it treated."
Fifteen days later.
Shrek Academy, first-year classroom.
Cai Yue'er, Shen Yi, Wu Zhangkong stood on the podium.
"Final exams will begin tomorrow. Your exams will cover the journey from Shrek Academy to Ming Capital within 15 days."
"We must pass through 10 cities, and in each city we need to defeat someone with Soul Power level five levels higher than our own."
"No one is allowed to carry any soul-guided devices or money. Those who fail to reach Ming Capital within 15 days, or fail to defeat enough people, will have points deducted."
The bottom five will be eliminated and expelled.
Xie Xie suddenly raised his hand, "Fifteen days? From Shrek to Ming Capital? On foot?"
"What will we eat? Where will we stay?"
Wu Zhangkong glanced at him, expressionless. "That's your own problem."
Xie Xie choked.
Yun Jingheng narrowed his eyes but made no comment.
"Sir, we've found out that the first-year students at Shrek Academy will be leaving school for their final exams tomorrow. When should we make our move?"
"Wait until he's far enough away from Shrek, then you can make your move."
"I will stop the Titled Douluo beside Him... Remember! Do not harm him, otherwise... Hmph--!"
"Yes... yes!"
In the darkness, several figures silently retreated.
The speaker sat in the shadows, his face obscured, only his eyes gleaming with a cold, eerie light in the dim light.
My fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, once, once, once, like some kind of countdown.
"... I've waited for you." His voice was low, but filled with joy.
"Hahaha, hahahaha--!"
Laughter echoed in the dim room, sharp and manic, like rusty iron dragging across a stone slab.
His fingers stopped tapping, and he gripped the armrest tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"A thousand years..."
His voice suddenly lowered, becoming so low it sounded like a breath squeezed from the depths of his throat, "I've waited for you for a thousand years."
No one answered him.
In the darkness, only his breathing could be heard, heavy and rapid.
"You've forgotten everything? It's okay, I'll make you remember everything... remember everything we had... remember all the injustices!"
The next day, at sunrise.
The main gate of the Shrek Academy.
The first-grade students gathered here, facing the three teachers.
Cai Yue'er glanced at the sky and nodded. "That's about enough. Let's search him. Yun Jingheng, come here."
Yun Jingheng's lips twitched, and he subtly hid the thing in his hand.
Cai Yue'er walked up to Yun Jingheng expressionlessly, looked him up and down, and her gaze fell on his slightly bulging pockets.
"Take it out."
Yun Jingheng didn't move, his hands in his pockets, his expression innocent. "What are you taking out?"
Cai Yue'er didn't waste any words with him. She reached out and grabbed Yun Jingheng by the collar, lifting him up like a chick.
Yun Jingheng's expression changed; he realized what was about to happen.
Cai Yue'er trembled.
"Ding~", "Dong~", "Bang~"
Yun Jingheng remained expressionless, while Cai Yue'er's forehead veins bulged. "I can understand the rest."
"Explain to me, what are you going to do with so many bombs? And there are quite a few different kinds."
"Um... just in case."
"..."
She narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice, "Did you bring that USB drive with you?"
Yun Jingheng avoided her gaze. "No, I have nothing left now."
Cai Yue'er put him down, but when she saw him trying to pick up something from the ground, she suddenly pulled him aside.
Shen Yi rushed forward and held him tightly.
"Your things are confiscated; I'll return them after the exam."