Beside him, Guan Yue frowned slightly.
Chen Xinjie turned to him. "Do you know why?"
Guan Yue pressed his lips together. After a moment, he nodded.
"I do."
"Something happened at the academy, so Holy Spirit Douluo can't leave."
Guan Yue spoke slowly to Chen Xinjie.
"Is it... about the North Sea?"
Chen Xinjie asked.
Guan Yue looked at him in surprise. "You know about the situation in the North Sea too?"
"I've heard a little."
Chen Xinjie nodded.
After all, Shrek Academy's military training always caused quite a stir. Yun Ming's antics back then had been especially spectacular; it would have been harder not to hear about them.
The Federation had also kept an eye on Devil Island in the North Sea.
But reliable information had always been scarce, and no one knew what was happening there. Recently, though, something seemed to have gone wrong.
Chen Xinjie looked at Guan Yue and asked quietly, "What happened on Devil Island?"
Guan Yue blinked, hesitant.
When he said nothing, Chen Xinjie waved a hand. "All right. If you don't want to say, don't."
Guan Yue lowered his head and sighed, then caught up with Chen Xinjie.
"Seven seniors of Shrek Academy were stationed on Devil Island to train the academy's talented younger generation."
"It's just..."
"They disappeared some time ago."
Chen Xinjie was surprised.
Shrek Academy's military training went back a long way. Could the people on Devil Island really have lived that long?
It seemed Guan Yue was still hiding a great deal from him.
Still, Chen Xinjie was content that Guan Yue had told him this much.
He gave a slight nod.
"I understand!"
"If you need my help, just say the word."
Guan Yue nodded. "All right."
"..."
The Mingdou Mountains.
Deep within a secluded valley.
After fleeing