At this point, a distinct note of sorrow entered Xuan Zi's voice. "They were all good children. Although they never truly graduated, their names have always remained on the academy's rolls.
They embraced the academy's ideals as their own. It wasn't that they lacked the strength to graduate. They died fighting for those ideals..."
"Many Outer Court students are already strong enough to qualify for the Inner Court, but quite a few choose to leave after graduating from the Outer Court.
That is because entering Shrek Academy's Inner Court means more than learning more and receiving guidance from better teachers. It also means shouldering a heavy responsibility.
Those students who chose not to enter the Inner Court believed they couldn't bear that responsibility. They left after swearing an oath of secrecy.
The academy respects every student's choice, but I must say this: every student who chooses to pursue further studies in the Inner Court is a hero. Not a hero of the academy, but a hero of the Douluo Continent."
Heroes were still an unfamiliar concept to these boys and girls. Yet when those words came from Xuan Zi's mouth, they carried an inexplicable weight.
After a brief silence, Xuan Zi said gravely:
"There is no denying that, from the moment you became reserve candidates, you already had one foot in the Inner Court.
But precisely because of that, before I truly take you away from the academy, I must confirm whether you are willing to shoulder the responsibility that belongs to the Inner Court.
If you aren't willing, you may return to the academy now. No one will blame you. You will still be able to study and graduate smoothly in the Outer Court. Moreover, I must tell you that the Inner Court doesn't actually teach much more than