Your Sword for What? Elder Jin's Hope for Survival!

"Xinglan, don't go!" Xu Lizhi cried out in grief and indignation as he hid in the bushes on the side.

The water that Ye Xinglan was holding was the one he had helped buy.

The golden sunlight was broken by Ye Xinglan, dappling Ye Xinglan, making her golden ponytail shimmer, and giving her an air of neatness and competence.

"Hoo!" Ye Xinglan took a deep breath, looked at the tall and handsome young man in the distance, a hint of determination flashed in her beautiful blue eyes, her fair hands gripped two bottles of water, and she walked towards Jiang Xiu.

Jiang Xiu raised an eyebrow as he watched Ye Xinglan walk towards him. This Ye Xinglan was really persistent.

"Jiang Xiu, are you... are you thirsty? This... this is for you." Ye Xinglan came to Jiang Xiu and said in a slightly awkward tone, handing two bottles of water to Jiang Xiu.

Seeing this scene, Xu Lizhi felt even more pain in his heart. He knew that he had never seen Ye Xinglan give anything to others before.

"Thanks, I'm not thirsty." Jiang Xiu waved and then turned to walk outside.

Trying to test him with just a bottle of water? Which cadre wouldn't withstand such a test?

Ye Xinglan was taken aback, and quickly stepped in front of Jiang Xiu, saying sincerely, "Is... is this flavor of water not good? Should I go buy some more?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Lizhi felt his nose turn red; this was clearly his favorite drink.

"Ye Xinglan, why are you following me like this?" Jiang Xiu stopped and looked at the girl in front of him with a probing gaze. "Is it because I'm stronger than you?"

"Yes," Ye Xinglan nodded emphatically upon hearing this, "You are very strong. Even Tang Dong and the others are no match for you. I want to learn from you."

Recalling the scene of Jiang Xiu fighting three people at once, Ye Xinglan still felt her heart pounding. This was the path of a strong person that she wanted to pursue.

"But why should I teach you? Do you think I have to teach you just because you want me to?" Jiang Xiu said calmly.

"No... that's not it." Ye Xinglan quickly shook her head, "There's no such logic in the world, I just want to become stronger..."

A glint of light flashed in Jiang Xiu's eyes, "Then what is your purpose in becoming stronger?"

Upon hearing Jiang Xiu mention this, a burning glint flashed in Ye Xinglan's azure eyes. "I become stronger so that I can challenge even stronger people. I want to see what the pinnacle of this continent looks like."

I will use the sword in my hand to climb to the top, step by step!

"Oh? What else? Guardian the honor of your Shrek Academy?" Jiang Xiu said softly.

"Hmm..." Ye Xinglan looked conflicted. As far as she knew, Jiang Xiu most likely didn't like Shrek Academy.

After a moment's hesitation, Ye Xinglan said, "Shrek Academy's motto is to Guardian the peace of the continent, and it has also established the Shrek Inspection Team to punish evil and maintain the stability of the continent. So, besides becoming stronger, I also want to join Shrek Academy."

"Now, the mainland is in turmoil, and the Holy Spirit Cult is wreaking havoc. My sword should not lie dormant; I must do what I must do."

Ye Xinglan's tone was somewhat low at first, but it became increasingly loud and clear later on.

A swordsman should not be cowardly, nor should he stand idly by; this is the essence of her swordsmanship.

Jiang Xiu's eyes flickered, and he gave Ye Xinglan a deep look. The glory of the Shrek Academy was something that every student who left Shrek Academy remembered. Clearly, the power of brainwashing was not on the surface, but inside.

When Shrek Academy stands on the high ground of justice and morality, these students will naturally and wholeheartedly agree with it.

However, Shrek Academy is no longer an academy; it has long since deviated from its original purpose.

As one senator put it, Shrek Academy does not participate in the Federation Conference, but Shrek Academy's influence is felt everywhere within the Federation Conference.

Therefore, Shrek Academy has long become an indomitable force, but it also proclaims itself to be just an academy, never interfering in the affairs of the continent.

It's a classic case of wanting both, and now Shrek City's autonomy has even been taken over by the Shrek Academy.

And are any of the Elder in the Sea God Pavilion truly normal people?

Jiang Xiu thought about what Cai Yue'er and Long Yeyue had done and couldn't help but wonder if they were fake people sent by the Abyss Plane.

It can only be said that they are some distance from God, but very far from being human.

Jiang Xiu looked at Ye Xinglan and said meaningfully, "Since you have such a strong sense of responsibility to Guardian the continent, you should join a legion or the War God Temple."

"These organizations never tout their own righteousness, nor do they flaunt their achievements. Unlike some forces, they quietly contribute to the mainland."

"This..." Ye Xinglan's voice faltered, unable to utter any rebuttal, while her heart felt as if it had been violently clenched.

"Just as you said, the world shouldn't be in such chaos, and your sword shouldn't be so narrow," Jiang Xiu said softly.

"Think carefully about whether you want to Guardian the continent or the glory of the Shrek Academy. Come find me after you've thought it through."

After saying that, Jiang Xiu patted Ye Xinglan on the shoulder and walked past her into the distance.

"Glory... or the continent..." Ye Xinglan's eyes showed a struggle, and for a moment, her mind was in turmoil.

What she truly desires is the glory of standing on the stage and basking in the honor of the Shrek Academy, or the justice of the Shrek Academy —and is this truly her original sword intent?

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I'm fortunate that my parents sacrificed themselves for the mainland, and there are many others like them, perhaps you don't even know their names."

At that moment, Jiang Xiu's voice came from afar, causing Ye Xinglan to suddenly raise her head.

Under the bright sunshine and amidst the towering buildings, Ye Xinglan stood at the boundary between shadow and sunlight, her eyes filled with struggle.

Sea God Lake.

"The road is laid out before you; it's up to you how you choose to act." Jiang Xiu murmured to himself, gazing at the shimmering lake.

If Ye Xinglan makes the wrong choice, then he will have no choice but to let go of his desire to help others and respect their fate.

"But Cai Yue'er probably won't cause trouble again this time," Jiang Xiu thought, stroking his chin as he suppressed his distracting thoughts.

After leaving Ye Xinglan, he took Ya Li's token and entered the Inner Court of the Shrek Academy.

However, he was told that Ya Li was treating Cai Yue'er, and that his master had not gone easy on her this time, which would hopefully give Cai Yue'er some peace and quiet.

Ya Li also secretly told him that he could come directly to the Sea God Pavilion the next day, as she had important matters to discuss with him.

"Buzz buzz buzz!" Feeling the faint Gray Tree Mark on the back of his right hand, Jiang Xiu's gaze was deep, and this was the thing left to him by the Old Plane Spirit.

After entering the Inner Court, it had been flickering, but it seemed to be wary of something and dared not make a sound.

"Lao Jin, wait for me, wait for me to come and save you." Jiang Xiu thought to himself. Tomorrow, when he sees Ya Li, he can use the opportunity to enter the Golden Ancient Tree to see Elder Jin.

Thinking of this, Jiang Xiu felt a surge of excitement. The Seed of Life in Elder Jin's hands was the key to his secret control over the Abyss Plane, and it absolutely could not be lost!

Once he obtains the Seed of Life, he can use it to access the primordial power of each layer of the Abyss Plane, and after activating the Seed of Life, he will gain the identity of the Child of Nature in the Douluo Continent.

This identity is extremely important to his future plans, as it relates to whether he can lure the Abyssal Sage King into a trap.

"Lao Jin, whether or not we can escape from the Shrek Academy depends on you," Jiang Xiu said softly, gazing at the towering ancient tree on Sea God Island.

Shrek Academy's treasure vault is built inside the Golden Ancient Tree, and Elder Jin is the tree spirit of the Golden Ancient Tree. After meeting him, he might be able to take out the abundant treasures inside.

He also wanted to know if the complete Secret of the Body their Body Sect were also in the Shrek Academy's treasury.

Afterwards, Jiang Xiu strolled towards the teaching office of the Outer Court. After all, he was a freshman now, and after the entrance examination, he should go to report for duty.

However, it seems that his teacher is Shen Yi, which Jiang Xiu is quite satisfied with.

After all, he didn't really come to the Shrek Academy to study; he came to obtain the Seed of Life and find the Secret of the Body.

After Jiang Xiu left, on the huge canopy of the Golden Ancient Tree, a phantom figure slowly withdrew its gazing gaze.

"It really is you, my hope."

Elder Jin spoke slowly, but his aged eyes were filled with excitement. He had finally seen the successor chosen by the Old Plane Spirit, and according to him, the Golden Dragon King Origin was actually in the person's body!

He knew all too well what that meant.

Although he didn't know how Jiang Xiu obtained it, he was greatly shocked and excited.

"Hmm, not bad, a good kid, not as reckless as the chosen one from the previous world," Elder Jin remarked softly.

In fact, he had met one of the inheritors of the spirit of the old plane two hundred years ago. However, that inheritor was too reckless and actually attacked Shrek Academy. In the end, he was killed by the then-palace master of the Sea God Pavilion and the tower master of the Spirit Transmission Tower.

Although he always felt that the inheritor was not dead, at that moment, he had undoubtedly extinguished that thought.

"This life, which has been like walking on thin ice, has finally seen hope, even a miraculous escape from the brink of death!" Elder Jin calmed his excited emotions and stared straight through the tree trunk.

In his line of sight was a strange space, within which countless Blue Silver Grass spread out, guarding the Blue Silver Emperor at the very center.

"Hmph! Still sleeping? I'll be here to take you away soon!" Elder Jin snorted. As time went by, he could clearly sense Ah Yin's intentions; she clearly had her eye on his body and his Seed of Life.

However, Ah Yin is currently in a deep sleep, not daring to reveal the slightest breath, and even her consciousness has subsided.

"Let me think... what kind of gift should I give Jiang Xiu for our first meeting tomorrow...?"

"Isn't sending Soul Bone too cheap...?"

"These herbs aren't even up to the level of Immortal Herb; some of them aren't presentable..."

"Rare metals? No way, those are too tacky."

Muttering to himself, Elder Jin slowly walked towards the treasure vault of the Sea God Pavilion...