60,000-Year Ice Dragon Torso Bone

The awards ceremony for the freshman assessment was held on a bright, sunny morning.

Enemies meeting face-to-face, their eyes burned with resentment. Dai Huabin cast a venomous glare at Lin Shuo, his face still showing obvious purple-blue bruises. It was this guy who had made him lose face on the competition field. Lin Shuo didn't even spare him a glance.

Du Weilun personally announced the top three on stage and declared their rewards: whenever each student required a soul ring, the academy would assist them in obtaining the most suitable one they could withstand.

"Additionally, for the champion team, the academy has decided to grant a special reward. You will accompany me to collect this reward after the classes are assigned." After Du Weilun finished speaking, he felt a bit curious himself. He didn't know what the reward was either; it was to be bestowed by Yan Shaozhe, and he was merely taking them to see the Dean.

"In view of the outstanding freshmen who have emerged in this year's competition, the academy has specially approved the following students as core disciples of the Outer Court. Core disciples will receive the full support of our academy. Almost all Inner Court disciples were core disciples previously. I will now announce the list."

"Lin Shuo, Wang Dong'er, Huo Yu'er, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Lan Susu, Lan Luoluo, Ning Tian, Wu Feng." Wang Dong'er and Huo Yu'er were both a little excited to hear this, not only because they had become core disciples, but also out of anticipation for the special reward.

Lin Shuo wore a thoughtful expression upon hearing this.

After all the names were announced, the class assignments began. The Control System and Power Attack System were placed in the same class. Lin Shuo, Wang Dong'er, and Huo Yu'er were naturally in the same class, with Wang Yan serving as their homeroom teacher.

"Alright, everyone, please return to your respective classrooms according to the assignments. The three members of the Lin Shuo team, come with me to collect your reward." Du Weilun walked straight up to the three of them.

Du Weilun did not take them to his own office, but headed directly toward Yan Shaozhe's office.

As Du Weilun walked in front, he suddenly slowed his pace and turned his head to look at Huo Yu'er. His gaze was not sharp, but carried a scrutinizing seriousness.

"Student Huo Yu'er, your soul power cultivation is the lowest among the core disciples; you should be aware of this yourself."

Huo Yu'er's footsteps faltered slightly, and she lowered her head, a flash of undisguised unease crossing her deep blue eyes. Her fingers unconsciously gripped the corner of her shirt, and her voice was soft: "Yes, Director Du, I know."

Seeing her like this, Du Weilun's tone softened a little.

"Don't be nervous, I am not criticizing you. On the contrary, the academy making an exception to grant you core disciple status, while taking into account that you are part of the champion team, also shows that your potential is sufficiently recognized. However, as the Dean of Students, I must remind you—the status of a core disciple will bring you more resources, but it will also bring more scrutiny. Your soul power level will become a handle for others to question you, and all you can do is use your strength to make those who question you shut up." Du Weilun paused and continued.

"Before the promotion to the second year, anyone below the second ring will be expelled. There are only nine months left until the promotion exam. So, work hard."

Huo Yu'er looked up, complex emotions surging in those deep blue eyes. She nodded firmly, her voice a bit more resolute than before: "I understand, Director Du. I will certainly not let the academy's expectations down."

Lin Shuo walked at the very back, listening to this conversation with a blank expression.

Du Weilun stopped in front of Yan Shaozhe's office door and raised his hand to knock.

"Dean Yan, Lin Shuo and the others have arrived."

"Please, come in."

The voice from inside was gentle and mellow. Du Weilun pushed the door open, stepped aside to signal the three to enter, and then turned to leave.

The office was much simpler than imagined. A large wooden desk, several rows of bookshelves packed with classics, and a hand-drawn map of Shrek Academy hanging on the wall. The curtains were half-drawn, and sunlight shone through the gaps, casting a golden beam onto the desk where tiny dust motes drifted slowly.

Yan Shaozhe sat behind the desk, wearing a plain white robe, a warm smile on his handsome face. Seeing the three enter, he put down his pen and swept his gaze over the three children, finally resting it on Lin Shuo. His gaze held undisguised appreciation, yet it was restrained just enough so as not to feel offensive.

"Sit down, don't be formal."

The three sat on the sofa. Wang Dong'er sat up straight, Huo Yu'er placed her hands neatly on her knees, and Lin Shuo leaned back against the sofa, calmly observing the furnishings in the office.

Yan Shaozhe skipped the small talk and took a leather pouch directly from his Storage Soul Tool. The brown pouch had some dark patterns on it and emitted a faint fluctuation of soul power.

"In all these years at Shrek Academy, we have never given such a valuable reward for the freshman assessment." Yan Shaozhe sighed, then took out a torso bone. This soul bone was pale blue, with ice flowers faintly visible on its surface. As soon as it appeared, the temperature in the office plummeted, and the surrounding air was filled with a faint icy mist.

Lin Shuo curled his lip when he saw the pouch. Perhaps soul bones were precious to other soul masters, but to him, they were the most useless things. If he wanted to absorb a soul bone, whether it was the long-standing reserves of the Star Dou Great Forest or the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, he could absorb them directly if he wished. But neither Sister Nana's advice nor Lin Shuo himself wanted to absorb soul bones. The Dragon God bloodline was already the most noble in the world. The soul bone provided by Shrek was even more useless to him.

"This is the torso bone of a 60,000-year-old Ice Dragon, obtained by a senior of Shrek Academy who slew it. You must know that the dragon was a true dragon! Even among the treasures of Shrek Academy, this soul bone ranks among the very best."

"However, ice-attribute soul masters are rare, and powerful ones are even fewer. Thus, this soul bone has remained gathering dust."

"Taking this soul bone out this time is a reward for genius. But since there is only one, you must discuss and decide among yourselves. I hope you will not disappoint the academy's expectations."

Yan Shaozhe's words were essentially a hint; Lin Shuo was the only one present with a dragon martial soul. Lin Shuo guessed that the news of him freezing Xu Sanshi outside the academy must have reached the ears of the Sea God Pavilion, which was why they had brought out this soul bone to gift them.

Wang Dong'er's eyes widened, her mouth forming an 'O' shape. Although she had lived in luxury since childhood, she had never seen a 60,000-year-old true dragon soul bone. Huo Yu'er had never seen a soul bone either, but from the reaction of the Sky Dream Iceworm within her spiritual sea, she understood that this soul bone was extremely precious.

Wang Dong'er nudged his leg with her knee under the table, signaling him to accept it quickly. This soul bone was practically tailor-made for him.