After Electrolux possessed Lin Yun, a faint gray glow immediately surfaced in Lin Yun's eyes.
An invisible wave of spiritual energy spread out from Lin Yun, but under Electrolux's precise control, it remained tightly contained within the tiny dorm room.
Not a trace of it escaped.
Electrolux raised Lin Yun's hand, palm down, and curled his thumb slightly toward his middle finger. A sudden force of suction sprang up between his fingers.
Electrolux, in control of Lin Yun's body, began to chant in a low voice.
"O wretched soul, bound to this place, I have seen the helpless spirit beneath your ferocious exterior."
"The past has turned to ash. Why cling to this place?"
"Speak your final wish, then fade away."
The blood gradually paled, and a figure appeared before Lin Yun.
"I can no longer find my home. My Martial Soul was shattered, and with it I lost my five senses. I can't go back. This place is all I have left of home."
After the figure spoke to Lin Yun, Electrolux, controlling Lin Yun's body, replied,
"That's simple. I can help you find your way home."
The figure couldn't help taking a step closer. Electrolux raised Lin Yun's hand, drew a circle in the air, and began chanting again.
"Guided by the power of the spirit, the departed will find their way home."
"Stand upon this Home-Longing Stone, which represents the simple longing for home. Once you step onto it, you'll naturally arrive home."
The figure had now shed its hostility. Looking at the stone Electrolux had conjured, it slowly stepped onto it.
It saw everything from its hometown, from after it had come to Shrek Academy.
It also remembered the people it cared about, and the happy days they had once shared.
Its loving parents, its like-minded friends, and those carefree, happy days when it didn't know the meaning of weariness or pain.
Its soul slowly faded away, and two drops of tears fell onto the windowsill.
Just then, the dormitory door abruptly opened.
"Student, no one can live in this room. I was distracted just now and didn't notice. I gave you the wrong key."
The teacher who had handed out the keys spoke breathlessly. He sounded sincere, and was willing to admit his mistake.
Lin Yun turned around, a faint smile on his face.
"It's all right. But don't give this room to anyone else. Think of it as a little perk for me—let me have a room to myself, okay?"
The teacher hesitated. Seeing the resolute look in Lin Yun's eyes, he sighed and said,
"Room assignments will continue for a few days. Stay here tonight and see how it goes. If there's no problem, come get the second key. That way, I won't assign it to anyone else."
Lin Yun nodded and smiled at the teacher. After sending him off, Lin Yun's mood sank.
"What's wrong?" Electrolux looked at Lin Yun in confusion and asked curiously.
Lin Yun shook his head to show that he was fine, then let out a long breath. He began cleaning the room, made the bed, and sat cross-legged on it to cultivate.
He cultivated until sunset. Then someone knocked on Lin Yun's dormitory door, and Huo Yuhao's voice came from outside.
"Brother Yun, let's check out the cafeteria!"
Lin Yun opened his eyes and answered that he was coming. Then he opened the dormitory door and followed Huo Yuhao toward the Outer Court cafeteria.
At Shrek Academy, especially in the Outer Court, things were basically run like the infamous Hengshui-style system from his previous life. Lin Yun wondered if Tang Jia San Shao had happened to see something about it when he was writing.
In any case, the Shrek Academy cafeteria didn't have such outlandish things as chairs. The school had granted those beasts in the Outer Court a table, and they ought to be grateful.
Huo Yuhao was used to hard times, so he didn't mind at all. He got two of the cheapest dishes, cheerfully set them on the table, and ate standing beside it.
More than the food, Lin Yun was interested in Huo Yuhao's beaming, ridiculous enthusiasm. He asked casually,
"Don't you think the cafeteria's a little shabby for the best academy in the world?"
Huo Yuhao shook his head.
"I think it's fine. More importantly, I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to becoming a powerful Soul Master now that I'm at the best academy in the world. Mom, watching from heaven, must be really happy."
Lin Yun immediately turned his face away and waved a hand.
"When you put it like that, you're right. I was just making a fuss over nothing."
Huo Yuhao smiled at Lin Yun, then suddenly quoted a line from Xu Sanduo, startling Lin Yun into looking up.
"Not really. I think talking with you is pretty enlightening."
Lin Yun thought it over, then asked,
"Enlightening? What have you learned?"
Huo Yuhao said,
"For example, what you said earlier: 'The bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish.' That was pretty enlightening."
Lin Yun took a deep breath and gave a self-deprecating smile.
"Let's eat. We should hurry back and get some rest. Come to think of it, you'll probably get a roommate tomorrow. Everyone who comes here is a genius, so they're bound to be proud and arrogant. If there's someone you can't handle, just call me."
Huo Yuhao nodded, feeling a little warmer inside.
The next morning, Lin Yun was startled awake by an argument next door.
"Why should I listen to you?"
"If you don't, I'll beat you out of here!"
Still bleary-eyed, Lin Yun grabbed a piece of clothing beside him and pulled it on. He couldn't help muttering to himself,
"Damn, the soundproofing in Shrek Academy's dorms is that bad? What are these walls made of?"
Still muttering, Lin Yun left his dormitory and looked toward the room next door.
The dormitory door was open. Lin Yun saw a tall, slender figure standing with their back to him, facing off against Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao had already spotted Lin Yun. Lin Yun waved at him and called out,
"Yuhao, what's going on? Need a hand?"
Wang Dong turned around and looked at Lin Yun.
"You brought backup? Whatever. I'm not afraid to take on two at once."
Lin Yun lightly stamped his foot and said to Wang Dong,
"Don't talk so big. The wind might blow your tongue right out of your mouth."
Wang Dong noticed Lin Yun's yellow and purple Soul Rings, and grew a little more serious.
"I didn't expect Shrek Academy to have someone almost on my level. But even with the same Soul Ring Configuration, a difference in Martial Souls can still put us worlds apart."
Huo Yuhao said seriously,
"Brother Yun, I don't need you. I'll settle this myself."
As he spoke, Huo Yuhao showed his own Soul Rings, and an unusual light gleamed in his eyes.
A hint of disdain appeared in Wang Dong's eyes.
"A Ten-Year Soul Ring? How did you even get into this academy? Don't say I'm picking on you. I could beat you easily without even using my Martial Soul."
Lin Yun raised a hand. A surge of Soul Power pushed the two apart, and he said gravely,
"If that's how it is, then this is easy to settle. There's a shady spot downstairs where nobody goes. Let's head there and sort this out..."
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