Wasn't that blue-haired girl waving from afar none other than Heroine Xu Xiaoyan?!
And the black-haired girl standing beside Heroine Xu Xiaoyan was Gu Yue, her face utterly impassive.
Na'er was very happy to see Xu Xiaoyan. After all, the two of them had been messaging each other constantly these past few days, and Na'er had even told her she was coming to Sun Moon.
But why was... Gu Yue here?!
Na'er was furious. She clutched Shen Nanxun's sleeve tightly.
Shen Nanxun was even more bewildered. Weren't those two supposed to be at Eastsea Academy? How had they ended up at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy?
Xu Xiaoyan came hopping over from beside a stone pillar and grabbed Na'er's arm, announcing with a smug grin, "We transferred here! Gu Yue said the classes at Eastsea Academy were too slow, so we might as well come to Sun Moon. I thought it'd be nice to be closer to you, Na'er, so we applied together!"
That wasn't actually the case. Heroine Xu wore her thoughts on her face: she simply wanted to get closer to Shen Nanxun. When a girl liked someone, she should strike hard and fast. Besides, her family supported her. After all, if she really managed to connect with the Shen Family, that would be far more valuable to the Xu Family than Xu Xiaoyan getting into Shrek Academy.
Countless students graduated from Shrek Academy, but how many of them could catch the Shen Family's eye?
Na'er's ahoge quivered. After greeting Xu Xiaoyan, she looked at Gu Yue's utterly expressionless face, her silver eyes full of wariness. "How did you get in? You can't just transfer into Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy."
"Special admission." Gu Yue's voice was cool. "A recommendation letter from the Spirit Pagoda."
She didn't say much more to Na'er, merely turning to Shen Nanxun. "My teacher asked me to tell you to visit the Spirit Pagoda in Ming Capital this weekend. She'll be waiting for you there."
"Forget it. No point overthinking it." Shen Nanxun nodded in agreement, deciding to head back and rest.
Na'er followed right behind him, but shot Gu Yue a fierce, threatening glare.
The latter only looked back at her haughtily, without saying a word.
Na'er suddenly stopped and turned around. Her silver eyes sparkled under the streetlights.
"Xiaoyan, come stay at my house tonight."
Xu Xiaoyan hugged her backpack and froze for a moment. She instinctively glanced back at Gu Yue.
The black-haired girl stood on the steps at the academy entrance, her hair stirring faintly in the night breeze, her expression as indifferent as ever.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble? I just transferred here, and I haven't even unpacked my dorm..." Xu Xiaoyan said, feigning reluctance, but the glimmer of delight in her icy-blue eyes was impossible to hide.
"It's no trouble. The Shen Family's house is huge, with plenty of guest rooms." Na'er spoke with utter confidence, tugged Xu Xiaoyan along by the wrist, and added after taking a couple of steps, "Mom's cooking is delicious. Didn't you say last time that you wanted to try authentic braised pork ribs?"
Xu Xiaoyan felt a little embarrassed. That was something she'd casually mentioned in a soul communicator three months ago, and Na'er still remembered. But she was trying to steal Na'er's man.
I'm a terrible person!
Pulled along by Na'er, Xu Xiaoyan was like a little white rabbit being stroked the right way, her steps so light she could almost bounce.
Still, she kept muttering,
"That's really too embarrassing,"
"I didn't bring anything,"
"What about my pajamas?"
But her pace didn't slow in the slightest.
Ahoge King had no idea that Heroine Xu's longing was no less intense than Gu Yue's.
This was called... inviting a wolf into the den!
Meanwhile, inside the dean's office at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.
The fragrance of tea curled through the air. Kong Jieming sat behind a broad red sandalwood desk, flipping through the new students' assessment results. His gaze lingered on one page for quite some time before he leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
"Old Zhang, what do you think of those two little ones from the Shen Family? How did they do today?"
Zhang Hanlin sat on the sofa across from him and took a sip of tea. He set the cup down without answering directly, instead asking, "Dean, do you remember the exchange match ten years ago?"
Kong Jieming tapped his fingers lightly on the desk. Of course he remembered. Ten years ago, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy had held an exchange match with Shrek Academy. They had sent their strongest lineup at the time, only for an obscure freshman from Shrek Outer Court to single-handedly defeat three of their students. After that, Sun Moon had never dared challenge Shrek again.
"Of course. So?"
"I want to say that I've seen the unparalleled future of Sun Moon!" Zhang Hanlin said excitedly. "With little Shen Nanxun and Na'er, what does a mere Shrek matter? We'll definitely defeat Shrek in the future and restore Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy to glory!"
"Heh." Kong Jieming chuckled. "Actually, Shrek has already been defeated by us."
Zhang Hanlin froze, not even understanding what he meant.
Kong Jieming explained calmly, "Didn't Shen Nanxun beat Shrek Academy? And isn't he one of ours now? By extension, doesn't that mean we defeated Shrek Academy?"
"Genius reasoning!" Zhang Hanlin gave him a thumbs-up. How had he never thought of it that way?
But it was true!
"Then get out there and spread the word. From now on, Sun Moon is the only number-one academy on the continent. Shrek is nothing but a beaten dog."
"The dean is wise!"
The next day.
Shen Nanxun came out yawning. Clearly, he hadn't slept well the night before.
Heroine Xu, on the other hand, was full of energy, practically buzzing with excitement as she chattered away beside him.
As for Ahoge King, she was still enthusiastically stuffing her face with breakfast.
Na'er, all you ever do is eat. It'll ruin you!
Today was the opening ceremony, so Shen Nanxun still had to attend. He could skip his regular classes entirely. His main reason for enrolling at Sun Moon was to have Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy on his résumé.
Many high-ranking positions in the Federation, especially in the military, followed unspoken rules. It was difficult for graduates of Shrek Academy to reach the very top. In all these years, apart from Yue Tian Douluo Guan Yue, who served in the War God Temple, there had been few high-ranking officers from Shrek in the various legions, with the Blood God Legion being a notable exception.
After all, Shrek Academy occupied a special place on the continent. If it were also allowed to control the military, the Federation's sky would be turned upside down. The parliament and military weren't fools, so they naturally imposed restrictions in this regard.
Aside from special events and competitions, Shen Nanxun didn't need to attend Sun Moon's regular classes at all. Given his current abilities, lessons weren't necessary. His four years at North Sea Academy had already given him a solid foundation, and the Shen Family had better resources for more advanced instruction.
After the opening ceremony.
Shen Nanxun didn't see Gu Yue today, but he did have an appointment at the arena: a swordsmanship match with Xue Liushuang.
Deep inside the Mimicry Cultivation Ground stood a vast simulated arena.
The entire arena was built on a high-grade soul tool array, surrounded by flowing pale-blue curtains of light. Within those curtains lay a self-contained world, making it one of the most advanced combat training facilities at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.
Its most remarkable feature was its ability to summon any kind of battlefield terrain for a realistic simulation. All it took was entering a command at the nearby soul tool control panel, and the arena's environment could transform in an instant.
In one moment, it could become an urban battlefield of towering buildings and crisscrossing alleyways, with broken walls and ruins strewn about—perfect for close-range maneuvering and sudden attacks through the streets. In another, it could shift into a boundless desert of swirling yellow sand and searing heat, where blinding sandstorms and open terrain tested one's Soul Power endurance and long-range control.
There were also snowfields and glaciers locked in ice for a thousand miles, ancient forests with towering trees, offshore reefs battered by raging waves, wastelands riven with lightning, and all manner of extreme terrain, from volcanic lava fields to secluded valley illusions.
Every detail in the simulated scenes—the wind, the sandstorms, the flowing water, the light and shadows, even the fluctuations of Soul Power between heaven and earth—was recreated with stunning accuracy. Touch, sight, and perception were indistinguishable from reality. Being there felt like stepping into another world.
This simulated arena had been established to cultivate the academy's Soul Masters' all-terrain combat abilities.
Ordinary Soul Masters were accustomed to fighting in a single environment and would suffer a sharp drop in strength when the terrain changed. Here, students could train across a range of landscapes, adapt to different climates and terrain, refine various fighting styles, and break free from the limitations the environment placed on their strength. They could learn to face any battle with ease, no matter where they found themselves.
Shen Nanxun strode onto the arena, glanced at the soul tool control panel nearby, and waited quietly for Xue Liushuang to arrive. Pale light flowed around the surrounding curtains. The empty arena was charged with the grim tension of a battlefield awaiting combat, ready for the two of them to choose their terrain and begin.
The arena was silent.
A set of light footsteps sounded, and a figure dressed in white slowly entered the simulated arena.
It was Xue Liushuang.
She wore the fitted uniform of Sun Moon Academy. Her figure was slender and upright, her skin fair as snow, and her features cool and aloof. She carried an air of distance that warned strangers away. Her dark hair was simply tied back, with a few wisps falling against her pale neck.
A charming young girl was already sitting in the spectator seats surrounding the arena. She was Xue Liushuang's close friend, Weng Daimin.
She cupped her hands around her mouth and leaned halfway out of her seat, eyes fixed on Xue Liushuang on the arena. In a quiet voice, she cheered, "Good luck, Liushuang! Teach that guy a lesson! Show him your strongest swordsmanship!"
Weng Daimin knew that Xue Liushuang was cool-tempered and disliked making a scene, so she only cheered softly, careful not to disrupt the atmosphere.
Xue Liushuang glanced toward the spectator seats and gave a slight nod. Then she looked back at Shen Nanxun standing before her.
"Ready?"
Shen Nanxun nodded. "We can start whenever you're ready. As agreed, we'll test only our pure swordsmanship."
The instant the words left his mouth, Xue Liushuang raised her delicate hand. A translucent white longsword wreathed in flowing light appeared out of thin air. Its clear blade gleamed like colored glass, its edge shining with a faint lunar radiance. It was her Martial Soul—the Split Light Sword.
In certain respects, the Split Light Sword was in no way inferior to the Stargod Sword. It had its own unique strengths.
Soul Power stirred in Shen Nanxun's palm, and a brilliant golden longsword appeared in his hand: the Angel Sword.
The two longswords faced each other from a distance.
There was no overwhelming burst of Soul Power, no Martial Soul phantom manifesting. Both honored their agreement, relying solely on the pure swordsmanship they had honed over the years.
The cool, aloof girl stood motionless with the Split Light Sword. Her back was straight as a pine, the tip of her sword angled toward the ground, her breathing steady.
Shen Nanxun held the Angel Sword, his body relaxed but alert. His gaze calmly locked onto his opponent, his sword intent already taking shape.
In the spectator seats, Weng Daimin held her breath, eyes fixed unblinkingly on the arena, eagerly anticipating this clash of peak swordsmanship.
The curtains of the simulated arena flowed quietly. On the empty battlefield, the two faced each other with swords in hand, their clash on the verge of erupting.
Both stood motionless, in no hurry to strike first. They steadied their minds and studied each other's presence.
Xue Liushuang's gaze turned cool. Her delicate fingers tightened around the Split Light Sword as one foot silently stepped half a pace forward. A flash of sword light swept up, and a gleaming white streak slashed diagonally through the air. Its trajectory was cunning and nimble, blending feints with real attacks—a manifestation of the Split Light Sword's uniquely elusive sword intent, which could split into illusions.
The sword shadows separated and converged in an instant, forming three nearly identical arcs of gleaming white light. They attacked Shen Nanxun from the left, right, and center. The sword light was as thin as mist, the strikes intricate and precise, every trajectory perfectly measured, without a hint of wasted movement.
A flicker of surprise appeared in Shen Nanxun's eyes. He slowly raised the Angel Sword, its brilliant golden light restrained and steady, and calmly held it across his body.
Pure swordsmanship met in a clash of parries and strikes. Golden and white sword light interwove at the center of the arena.
Crisp sword chimes rang out one after another, clear and bright as they echoed through the empty simulated arena.
Shen Nanxun's swordsmanship was steady and powerful, his broad, sweeping attacks forming an airtight defense. Every block flowed with effortless smoothness.
Xue Liushuang's swordsmanship, by contrast, was graceful and unpredictable. Her movements were light and nimble, her sword light swirling like frost in the wind as she darted in and out, shifting between feints and real attacks. She used skill to overcome strength, and softness to overcome force.
Their figures crossed and recrossed across the arena.
Xue Liushuang's swordsmanship had already reached the peak among her peers. She displayed the Split Light Sword's intricacies to the fullest: deceptive duplicates, sudden thrusts, and entangling strikes flowed together without a single opening.
Shen Nanxun didn't dare underestimate her in the slightest. He put aside his usual casualness and immersed himself completely in the sword. The Angel Sword defended while attacking, combining straightforward moves with unexpected twists. No matter how strange or entangling her sword light became, he held firm to his sword heart.
They traded moves back and forth for over a hundred exchanges, their sword light weaving into a net of gold and white. Neither gained the slightest advantage.
Weng Daimin had long since held her breath. Her beautiful eyes were wide with amazement.
From what she could see, even beneath her close friend's sword, this junior student wasn't at a disadvantage in the slightest. He responded to every strike with ease and didn't look the least bit intimidated.
After several dozen more exchanges, both retreated three steps at once and came to a steady stop.
Shen Nanxun lowered his sword at his side, his breathing perfectly steady. His eyes were full of sincere respect.
Xue Liushuang pointed the Split Light Sword toward the ground. A hint of emotion had entered her cool features, and her chest rose and fell slightly, but she showed no sign of defeat.
The sword light on the arena gradually faded, and the sharp sword energy surrounding them slowly dissipated.
A draw.
Only then did Weng Daimin let out a long breath. She couldn't help exclaiming in a low voice, "That was incredible... Liushuang really did tie with him! His pure swordsmanship is every bit as good!"
Shen Nanxun put away the Angel Sword and said calmly, "Excellent swordsmanship. Judging purely by swordsmanship, we're evenly matched. Let's call it a draw today."
Xue Liushuang gave a slight nod. Her cool voice held a touch of solemn respect for a swordsman at her level. "You're very strong too. Your sword heart is steady, and your swordsmanship is profound. You're one of the strongest swordsmanship opponents I've ever faced."
She now understood that, if they were judging purely by their swordsmanship, she and Shen Nanxun were in fact on the same level. Each had their own strengths and foundations. Neither could truly overpower the other. They were both among the top Sword Martial Soul wielders of the younger generation.
"But swordsmanship is one thing. I look forward to your freshman team fighting us!"
Xue Liushuang, Weng Daimin, and the other four made up the original strongest six-person team at Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy. They had been hailed as the strongest generation in a hundred years.
But now that Shen Nanxun had appeared out of nowhere, the academy had already begun preparing for this battle. In truth, it was to build up Shen Nanxun and this new generation. If they could defeat a team from an older age group, then without a doubt, they would be the strongest generation in the history of Sun Moon Imperial Soul Master Academy.
Before you continue