If You Come in Winter, Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen Enter the Inner Court, Pre-selected for the Shrek Seven Devils

The next day.

Sea God Island, Shrek Academy Inner Court.

Stepping onto Sea God Island for the first time, Gongyang Mo could not keep his eyes from wandering.

Wutong Avenue, the Lakeside Villa, the eaves of the Sea God Pavilion looming in the distance—every detail made him want to take a second look.

Coming from a wealthy merchant family in the Heaven Dou Empire, he had considered himself well-traveled, but walking here, he felt like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time.

"So this is the Inner Court..." Gongyang Mo muttered, turning his head toward Mu Tianyi. "Brother Tianyi, is this where you stay during the holidays?"

Mu Tianyi gave an "en" and continued leading the way, his pace as casual as if he were strolling through his own backyard.

Ling Luochen followed behind. She didn't show her emotions as openly as Gongyang Mo, but her light blue eyes were busy taking in the surroundings all the same.

She came from an ordinary village; even getting into the Shrek Academy Outer Court had been something she never dared to dream of.

Now, standing on the soil of the Inner Court, the shock in her heart was far greater than what she showed on her face.

Mu Tianyi spoke as he walked: "Since you aren't going home for the holidays, staying in the Outer Court is fine, but I've applied for green cards for you both."

"You can enter the Inner Court to cultivate in the afternoons; you can arrange your own mornings."

At this point, someone might ask.

Streamer, streamer, doesn't Sea God Island have rules against Outer Court students entering?

To this, Mu Tianyi's response was:

Well said, I'll reward you with a front-row seat to observe a Grade 9 soul cannonball at close range.

He paused and glanced back at the two of them.

"You'll understand the difference in cultivation environments between the Inner Court and the Outer Court once you experience it for yourselves."

"Since you chose to join Shrek Academy and become my comrades, I won't let you miss out on the benefits you deserve."

Gongyang Mo didn't reply, but his pace lightened.

Ling Luochen lowered her lashes, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly, also remaining silent.

Some things didn't need to be said; they would keep it in their hearts.

The three of them crossed Wutong Avenue and saw the silhouette of the Sea God Pavilion in the distance.

"Oh, right, there's one more reason I brought you in today." Mu Tianyi slowed his pace. "Dean Yan wants to see you; he says there's something important to discuss."

Gongyang Mo's steps faltered. "Dean Yan? The Dean Yan from the Martial Soul Department?"

"Yes."

Gongyang Mo took a deep breath and instinctively straightened his collar.

Ling Luochen's fingers tightened slightly against her sleeves.

Are you kidding? This was the Dean of Shrek Academy! Was this someone of their status even allowed to meet?

Mu Tianyi looked at them and smiled, his tone indifferent: "Don't be nervous. Old Yan invited you here, so it certainly isn't for anything bad. Who knows, it might even be something good."

"O-Old Yan?"

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

In their experience, Mu Tianyi was the only person who dared to address the Dean of Shrek Academy like that.

Good heavens.

Just what kind of background did this guy have?

Could he be the crown prince of Sea God Island?

Mu Tianyi ignored their silent exchange and led them through the bamboo forest toward the Sea God Pavilion.

Yan Shaozhe's office in the Inner Court was not in the main building of the Sea God Pavilion, but on the third floor of the adjacent annex.

The space was small, but the view was excellent; pushing open the window revealed the entire Sea God Lake.

Mu Tianyi knocked on the door, heard a "come in" from inside, and pushed it open.

Yan Shaozhe was sitting by a tea table brewing tea; steam rose from the spout of the purple clay teapot, and the fragrance of tea filled the room.

Seeing the three of them enter, he looked up and greeted them with a smile: "You're here? Sit."

Mu Tianyi responded with a smile, looked back at Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen, and said, "I've brought them."

After saying this, he found a seat for himself, picked up the teacup in front of him, and spoke as casually as if he were in his own home: "Sit down, everyone. Don't just stand there."

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen looked at each other, neither daring to move.

This was Yan Shaozhe.

The Dean of the Shrek Academy Martial Soul Department, a level 95 Super Douluo.

A figure of that level was like someone living in the clouds to them. Now, sitting face-to-face with him, and being told to "sit wherever"...

Gongyang Mo felt as if there were nails in his chair; no matter how he sat, it felt wrong.

Ling Luochen was slightly more composed than him, but she wasn't doing much better.

Yan Shaozhe set down the teapot, personally poured a cup for each of them, pushed them forward, and said with a smile:

"No need to be restrained. I didn't call you here today in my capacity as Dean; just treat this as a chat between friends."

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen hurriedly leaned forward to express their thanks, picking up their teacups, their postures finally relaxing a little.

Yan Shaozhe leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over their faces, his tone as gentle as a neighborly uncle:

"First, I want to say thank you for being willing to join Shrek Academy and become a part of the academy."

Gongyang Mo quickly set down his teacup: "Dean Yan, you are too polite. Being able to join Shrek Academy is our honor."

Yan Shaozhe waved his hand and continued.

From the history of Shrek Academy to the future of the academy, from the allocation of resources to the training plans, every word was filled with sincerity.

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen were praised until they could hardly sit still, the roots of their ears turning red as they repeatedly responded with humility, though their hearts felt as sweet as if they had been filled with honey.

Mu Tianyi sat to the side, holding his teacup, watching this performance by Yan Shaozhe, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.

Old Yan, if nothing else, certainly has a way of winning people over.

After a round of mutual flattery.

Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen really couldn't sit still anymore.

The two stood up almost simultaneously, their backs straight, the expressions on their faces shifting from flattered to solemn.

"Dean Yan, please rest assured." Gongyang Mo took a deep breath, the light from outside the window reflecting in his multicolored eyes, "For our own sakes, and for the sake of Shrek Academy, we will definitely give it our all."

Ling Luochen did not speak, but nodded firmly.

Yan Shaozhe was amused by their serious demeanor, waving his hand to signal them to sit down, his tone carrying a hint of genuine approval:

"Alright, alright, don't make it sound like you're taking an oath. As long as you have this heart, I am relieved."

He set down his teacup, fished a palm-sized wooden box out of his storage Soul Tool, placed it on the coffee table, and pushed it toward them.

Mu Tianyi held his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the box, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

Here it comes.

This item should be the key reason Yan Shaozhe called them here today.

He set down his cup, leaned back in his chair, and watched quietly.

Yan Shaozhe opened the box, took out two badges, and tossed them over.

Gongyang Mo was quick-eyed and nimble-handed, catching one, while Ling Luochen also reached out and caught her own.

The two lowered their heads to look; the badges were entirely red, with the iconic monster emblem of Shrek Academy engraved on the front.

The little red monster of Shrek glowed with a warm luster under the light, the craftsmanship so exquisite it didn't look like something mass-produced.