Come on, you're the one who deserves everything!

"Cough, cough. Let's talk about techniques later. For now, let's focus on absorbing this External Spirit Bone. Are there any restrictions, Teacher?"

Xue Mingqing cleared his throat, proactively changing the subject.

Although the Corpse Refining and Soul Refining techniques Feng Qingyang had transmitted into his mind were indeed useful, they were of little practical value to him at the moment.

He was only six and a half years old, currently in the golden age for cultivating spirit power. He would not, and should not, waste his precious training time.

Hearing this, the playfulness on Feng Qingyang's face slowly faded, and he said solemnly, "What restrictions could there be? Absorb it just like any ordinary spirit bone. As long as your body is strong enough, that's all that matters."

After hearing Feng Qingyang's explanation, Xue Mingqing nodded without further ado. He sat cross-legged and began to absorb the Wind Snow Evil Eye, the External Spirit Bone.

As Xue Mingqing began the absorption, Feng Qingyang remained silent. After casting a quiet glance at him, he sat in mid-air, closed his eyes, and began to meditate.

While acting as a guardian for Xue Mingqing, he also took the opportunity to restore his own spirit body.

The sunset outside the window gradually dipped below the horizon, and a sliver of silver moonlight began to climb over the far shore of Sea God Lake.

Time passed in quiet silence, second by second, and Feng Qingyang's spirit body gradually solidified from its near-collapse state.

Meanwhile, under Xue Mingqing's refinement and absorption, the Wind Snow Evil Pupil slowly merged into the center of his brow...

At the same time—

Outside Sea God Lake, at the freshman dormitory building.

Zhang Lexuan, who had completed her enrollment procedures and officially become a student of the Shrek Outer Court, sat alone in her room.

Because she was a disciple of Mu En, she was technically a junior sister to Yan Shaozhe.

She didn't have to squeeze into a dormitory with others; Yan Shaozhe had arranged a luxurious single room for her directly.

At this moment, the girl with waist-length black hair and a gentle, delicate face sat alone on her bed.

She lifted her gaze to the silver moon outside the window, letting the cunning moonlight spill over her body, outlining her graceful figure.

Looking at the moon, the reflection in her beautiful black peach-blossom eyes was not a crescent moon, but rather—

The silhouette of someone...

Clutching the fur cloak embroidered with the Wind Snow emblem to her chest, Zhang Lexuan's gaze softened even further.

Lowering her eyes, she gently stroked the fur, as if she were tenderly touching someone's face through the fabric.

Feeling the delicacy of the material, she looked up and stared intently in the direction of Sea God Island in the Inner Court, whispering three words.

"Xue Mingqing..."

As she murmured the boy's name, a beautiful curve appeared on Zhang Lexuan's pink lips.

Gently tucking the fur cloak into her storage spirit tool, she looked up at the silver crescent moon in the sky, as if she had made a decision.

"Since you saved me... then, I will not owe you this favor in vain..."

"I will, I definitely will repay this favor to you..."

After saying this, Zhang Lexuan closed her beautiful eyes. Behind her, a full silver moon emerged, actively absorbing and drawing upon the lunar energy spilling from the crescent moon in the sky.

That was her martial soul, the Moon. Not only could it be moderately strengthened at night, but it could also absorb the lunar essence of the celestial moon to accelerate her cultivation.

At this moment, she was using the power of the moonlight to assist in her training.

Zhang Lexuan and Xue Mingqing, this senior sister and junior brother with a six-year age gap, were both training at this very moment, driven by a shared desire to become stronger.

Yet, they could not have known that despite having only arrived at Shrek Academy for a single day and having done nothing of note, they had already stirred up undercurrents within the academy...

On the other side, in an underground secret chamber within the Inner Court of Sea God Island.

This was Yan Shaozhe's residence; to be precise, it was more of a place for him to meditate and improve his cultivation.

As the Dean of Shrek, his official residence was actually in the Outer Court.

However, he didn't visit that residence often. He spent most of his time in this secret chamber, which was why it felt more like his true home.

The reason for this was the existence of the Golden Tree in the Inner Court of Shrek, which drew in more of the world's vital energy, allowing all spirit masters to achieve twice the result with half the effort in their cultivation here.

As for why Yan Shaozhe, a light-attribute spirit master, would choose a dark and damp basement as his cultivation spot, that remained a mystery.

However, Yan Shaozhe, currently in this basement, was not training as he usually did.

With his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot, and his breathing heavy like an ox, broken objects could be seen scattered throughout the basement.

This mess was not caused by anyone else; it was entirely his own doing.

Ever since the Sea God Pavilion meeting ended, his heart had been unable to find peace.

Every time he recalled the look his teacher, Mu En, had given him, his heart felt as if it had been stabbed by a blade.

It was a look of disappointment, a look of someone who hated that he could not live up to expectations...

Recalling Mu En's gaze repeatedly, Yan Shaozhe could not calm his mind to cultivate. The more he thought, the angrier he became, until he finally lost control and smashed the objects in the basement.

Yet, even after destroying everything around him, standing in the middle of the chaotic chamber, the burning jealousy in his heart could not be extinguished...

Yes, that was it—jealousy. He was jealous of the treatment Xue Mingqing received, jealous of his talent, and even more jealous of the attitude Mu En held toward him!

One had to understand, even he, a Super Douluo and the Dean of Shrek, did not have the qualifications to reside in the Sea God Pavilion, yet what about Xue Mingqing?

A six-and-a-half-year-old child had moved into the Sea God Pavilion with ease, and had even been directly established by Mu En as the successor of the next generation!

He was unwilling to accept this; he simply could not reconcile himself to it...

Clearly, he was the first disciple Mu En had ever taken in, and clearly, he should have been the first in line to inherit the Sea God Pavilion.

But...

All of this had been snatched away by Xue Mingqing, his junior fellow apprentice.

How could he possibly be content with this...?

In truth, when people become jealous, they lose their reason, just as Yan Shaozhe was doing at this very moment.

If Xue Mingqing had never appeared, would Mu En have handed the position of Sea God Pavilion successor to him?

Obviously not. Lacking the necessary temperament and unable to shoulder great responsibilities—that was Mu En's assessment of Yan Shaozhe.

Was Yan Shaozhe unaware of this?

He was perfectly aware!

However, he could not face his own failures and shortcomings, nor did he dare to.

Because once he admitted it, it would almost directly prove that he was not even worthy of his current position as Dean of Shrek...

Therefore, trapped in self-deception and fear, he could only choose to direct all his fury and resentment toward Xue Mingqing!

Toward this innocent junior fellow apprentice!

His eyes reddened and his breath came in ragged gasps like an ox. Yan Shaozhe stared fixedly at the wreckage strewn across the floor, his fists clenching and unclenching, utterly unable to calm himself down...

Just as he was losing control of his emotions, a strange voice suddenly echoed within his mind...

Yes... by what right did he take all of this away...?

Come now... you are the one who should have all of this!

Hearing the voice in his mind, Yan Shaozhe instinctively froze. After he realized what was happening, his eyes, unbeknownst to him, were stained with a trace of scarlet, murky darkness...

"Yes... clearly... clearly I am the one who should...!"

"As long as... as long as..."