After the freshman assessment ended, Shrek Academy returned to its normal teaching routine.
Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight spilled into the classroom.
Gu Xingyue always arrived late, just as class began, then slumped over a desk by the window for the entire day.
Sunlight streamed through the glass onto his handsome face, outlining it with a faint golden rim. Even the teacher could not be bothered to wake him.
After all, she had already learned from her grandmaster that Gu Xingyue had officially become a member of the Sea God Pavilion, and was even its heir. Everyone at Shrek would have to listen to him in the future.
Wang Yan was no bookworm ignorant of worldly ways. She wanted to advance, too. As for why, naturally, she wanted to read more books. After all, at her current rank, she still lacked permission to read certain treasured volumes. If she built a good relationship with Gu Xingyue now, she could take a shortcut later.
So she turned a blind eye to all of Gu Xingyue's violations of classroom discipline.
Gu Xingyue occasionally went to the Soul Guidance Department to see Huo Yutong.
Sometimes, the two tried out newly developed soul tools in the soul tool training room; at other times, they strolled side by side along the campus's tree-lined paths, enjoying a rare stretch of peace.
Because he was the strongest in the entire outer courtyard, at some point the students had privately given him the title of "Great Demon King."
Some had reportedly even secretly founded an "Anti-Demon King Alliance," declaring that as long as he remained ungraduated, none of them would ever have their day in the sun.
Of course, Gu Xingyue himself had never paid any attention to these rumors. He cared more about what the cafeteria was serving for lunch that day.
The days slipped quietly by amid this ordinary routine, and soon, the semester was drawing to a close.
That day, Wang Yan stood at the lectern, adjusted her black-framed glasses, and swept her gaze across the students below, who were bursting with excitement over the coming vacation.
"Students, the end of term is approaching, and I'm sure you're all very excited." Her voice was calm and clear. "But what I want to say is that this doesn't mean you can start slacking off. Cultivation is still your most pressing priority, because-there will be another exam when the next semester begins!"
The students, who had still been immersed in the joy of their upcoming vacation, instantly looked as though lightning had struck them. Wails filled the classroom.
"What?! Another exam?!"
"The sky is falling! This is simply more than any normal person can take!"
"Teacher Wang, have a heart!"
Wang Yan listened expressionlessly to their complaints. Only after the noise gradually subsided did she leisurely list a few things to keep in mind during the vacation, then briskly announce, "These are all the academy's arrangements. In short... you still need to work hard! Class dismissed."
The instant she finished speaking, a figure shot out of the classroom like lightning.
At the entrance to the Soul Guidance Department's laboratory, Huo Yutong had just put away her tools and was about to leave when she saw Gu Xingyue leaning against the doorway, watching her with a smile.
"Let's go, Yutong." He held out his hand, his tone as natural as if he were saying, "Nice weather today."
Huo Yutong's face reddened slightly, but she obediently placed her hand in his palm.
Their fingers intertwined as they walked slowly down the path along Sea God Lake.
The sunset's lingering glow spilled over the lake, its rippling surface glittering as though someone had scattered a handful of broken gold across it.
A breeze brushed past, carrying the freshness of moisture and the faint fragrance of distant flowers and grass.
Huo Yutong wore a long white dress that day, its skirt swaying gently with her steps.
She wore a pale blue scarf, and her slightly curled long hair fell loose over her shoulders, gleaming softly in the sunset.
Her eyes, in particular, were as blue as the sea, as though they could reflect all the colors of the sky.
Gu Xingyue turned his head to look at her, the corners of his lips rising without his noticing.
After all his "feeding" during this time and the Evergreen Life Vine's gradual influence, Huo Yutong's physique had long since far surpassed that of her peers, and her figure had developed ever more noticeably along with it.
The girl, who had once been somewhat immature, now faintly possessed a captivating charm.
"What are you looking at?" Huo Yutong noticed his gaze, her cheeks flushing as she lightly pinched his hand.
"You're pretty," Gu Xingyue answered with perfect confidence. Then he leaned close to her ear and lowered his voice. "You're becoming more and more womanly."
"Y-you... what nonsense are you talking about!" Huo Yutong blushed all the way to her ears and made to shake off his hand, only for him to hold hers tighter.
"I'm telling the truth." Smiling, Gu Xingyue pulled her into his arms and rested his chin lightly on the crown of her head. "Yutong, do you know? The way you look now really makes me want to..."
"Want to what?" Huo Yutong looked up, a trace of curiosity and nervousness in her sea-blue eyes.
Gu Xingyue looked at her lovely face, so close to his own, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. In the end, he merely pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "Want to keep holding you like this forever."
Huo Yutong froze for a moment, then a sweet smile curved her lips, and she took the initiative to wrap her arms around his waist.
The two held each other by the lake like that, enjoying the rare peace.
Just then, Huo Yutong seemed to want to say something, but the way she was too embarrassed to speak made Gu Xingyue find it rather funny. He stared at her, then put on a serious expression as he said, "Student Yutong, are you hiding something from me?"
"Huh? Is it that obvious?" Huo Yutong suddenly said. Then she smiled and continued, "Actually, I've already become a Grand Soul Master, and I need to obtain a soul ring. I'll have to go away for a while before coming back. I came to say goodbye to you today."
Looking at Huo Yutong, Gu Xingyue thought that she had indeed already become a Grand Soul Master and needed to go to the Extreme North to secure her own cheat: the four-hundred-thousand-year savage beast, the Ice Jade Scorpion Emperor.
Of course, this would also be very painful, but under the influence of Gu Xingyue's Evergreen Life Vine, Huo Yutong's physique had already far surpassed that of a normal Grand Soul Master.
This was the Evergreen Life Vine's tremendous power to defy heaven and change fate. Never mind the improvement to her physique-perhaps Huo Yutong's lifespan was now several hundred or even a thousand years longer than that of a normal soul master.
After all, the Evergreen Life Vine's healing effects far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine, making it even more precious than Skydream Iceworm, that soul-power battery.
If other factions learned of his existence, especially the Body Sect, which desperately yearned for the second awakening of body martial souls, they would probably spare no cost to seize him.
After all, the second awakening of a body martial soul required drawing out the human body's potential at a moment of life and death, and its success rate was extremely low.
But with a healing-type soul master like him, one of the very best in the world, assisting from the side, not only could the survival rate rise dramatically, but cultivators could also challenge their limits with even greater abandon.
So Mu En's earlier warning had been very necessary.
Although he knew she would ultimately obtain the soul beast she wanted without trouble, Gu Xingyue still asked Huo Yutong whether she needed a bodyguard, but she turned him down.
Gu Xingyue did not insist any further, while a trace of sorrow at their parting appeared in Huo Yutong's eyes.
Before you continue