Word Count: 2,740 Words
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Time flew by, and the first exchange program between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy came to a successful conclusion.
To celebrate this historic breakthrough, Jing Hongchen specifically instructed Lin Jiayi to organize a farewell ceremony. Even Crown Prince Xu Tianran arrived in a wheelchair to attend.
Under the leadership of Teacher Fan Yu, exchange students such as Ning Tian and Huo Yuhao stood in a row. They had all changed back into the Inner Courtyard's red uniforms, symbolizing their imminent return to their alma mater.
Jing Hongchen personally presented each exchange student with a Sun Moon Imperial Academy graduation certificate. After shaking hands with each one, he noticed Ling Bai standing quietly below the stage and approached with a broad smile:
"Xiao Ling, here is your graduation certificate."
"Hall Master Hongchen, I don't think I count as an exchange student, do I?" Ling Bai declined with a smile.
"That may be true, but your intangible contributions to the Sun Moon Imperial Academy over these two years have been evident to all."
Jing Hongchen said, his response already prepared. "You've served as a benchmark that drove our students to study Spirit Guidance Devices with everything they had, hoping one day to defeat you.
You deserve to be an honorary graduate."
He firmly pressed the certificate into Ling Bai's hands, then lowered his voice and spoke with a serious expression, "Xiao Ling, our academy isn't so bad, is it? How about staying longer?
To speak plainly, if you agree to join the Sun Moon Empire, I guarantee in my capacity as Hall Master of Illustrious Virtue Hall that your final two spirit rings will be 100,000-year rings. For your ninth ring, the empire will spare no effort to hunt a Great Beast for you.
Besides, my precious granddaughter has written quite a few letters. Every one asks if you're well and tells me to take good care of you.
As her grandfather, I'm willing to fulfill Meng's devoted heart. What do you think?"
"Thank you for your kindness, Hall Master, but everyone has their own aspirations. I want to walk the path I've chosen."
Ling Bai shook his head slowly but firmly.
To be fair, whether out of recruitment efforts or love for his granddaughter, Jing Hongchen had opened many doors for him over the past two years. Aside from the core area of Illustrious Virtue Hall, he had enjoyed unrestricted access throughout the academy. Nevertheless, he could never abandon everything to throw himself into the Sun Moon Empire's embrace.
"This is your only chance... What a pity."
Jing Hongchen patted Ling Bai's shoulder and sighed inexplicably, a hint of pity lurking in the depths of his eyes.
The group set off for Maple Leaf City, the designated exchange point between the two academies. Along the way, anxious yet joyful expressions filled the faces of the Shrek Academy students.
After studying thousands of miles from home for two and a half years, they were finally going back.
The Sun Moon Imperial Academy had guarded against them at every turn, terrified that the Shrek exchange students might accidentally learn core technologies. Even so, they had been exposed to many advanced Spirit Guidance Device concepts, broadening their horizons and accumulating valuable knowledge. Everyone had benefited tremendously.
Deans Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin Er personally arrived in Maple Leaf City for the exchange, accompanied by ten exchange students from the Sun Moon Imperial Academy.
The Hongchen siblings craned their necks, eagerly searching for that familiar figure, and soon spotted Ling Bai flanked by Ning Tian and Wu Feng.
Since parting in Jialing City, they had not seen Ling Bai again. Now that the three were reunited, hot tears brimmed in Meng Hongchen's beautiful eyes. She quickly broke away from her group and ran to stand before Ling Bai, her red lips trembling.
Though she had rehearsed hundreds of opening lines in her heart, not a single word emerged. She simply gazed foolishly at the figure standing so close, her heart pounding like a drum.
Seeing that she remained silent, Ling Bai smiled and said, "Long time no see. How have you and Brother Xiao been at Shrek?"
Meng Hongchen snapped back to reality, her voice trembling with excitement. "Good… we're doing very well. It's so, so wonderful that you're still alive!"
Xiao Hongchen walked over, gave Ling Bai a heavy hug, and said with a slight tone of reproach, "Meng has missed you terribly. The real question is, why didn't you ever come back?!
Don't even think about running away. I've already decided you're my brother-in-law! When the time comes and you two have a couple of kids, I'll help raise them!"
Meng Hongchen glared at her laughing brother before lowering her head shyly.
Ling Bai, meanwhile, felt two sudden chills, as cold as the permafrost in the Extreme North's core region. He quickly glanced sideways at Ning Tian and Wu Feng. Faint black auras emanated from both women.
Wu Feng lightly ground her tiger fangs, their tips reflecting a sharp white light as they made crunching sounds, as if she were practicing chewing something to bits. Outwardly, Ning Tian maintained her gentle and demure appearance, but her smile contained not a shred of warmth.
"Hall Master Hongchen's bearing remains as impressive as ever."
"Dean Yan looks even more distinguished than before."
Yan Shaozhe and Jing Hongchen, those two old foxes, clasped hands and exchanged cordial pleasantries. Anyone unaware of the truth would have thought them the closest of friends.
Xian Lin Er could not be bothered with hollow exchanges and went straight to her only direct disciple, Ning Tian. Taking her hand and looking her over, she said with a warm smile:
"You've matured a lot. You're becoming more and more like your mother."
The two deans were near a hundred years old, while Ning Fengya and Du Weilun's generation had not yet reached fifty. When the latter had enrolled in Shrek, the two deans had still been Inner Courtyard teachers, so outstanding students naturally left a deep impression.
"Teacher, I'm still far from my mother's level… "
Ning Tian's eyes dimmed. In both appearance and methods, she strived to reach her mother's standards.
If Ning Fengya had been in her place, she would have remained perfectly composed even face-to-face with Meng Hongchen. But Ning Tian couldn't manage it. Especially when she saw those identical, sparkling eyes, filled to the brim with worship and adoration, her heart felt as heavy as if a stone were pressed against it.
The two sides completed their exchange. The Hongchen siblings reluctantly said their goodbyes, making Ling Bai promise to meet them at the next Mingdu Spirit Master Tournament.
Before leaving, Xiao Hongchen asked about Ling Bai's cultivation level. Ling Bai answered truthfully. He was at the peak of Rank 79 and would certainly break through to Rank 80 within five days.
Xiao Hongchen sighed in defeat. There were still three full months before the tournament, and Ling Bai would undoubtedly become an 8-ringed Spirit Douluo by then. He had considered taking secret medicine to break through to Spirit Saint—sacrificing future potential just to face Ling Bai once more—but now he decisively abandoned that foolish notion.
Losing to my brother-in-law isn't shameful!
"Dean Yan, Dean Xian, farewell!"
Not wanting to linger, Jing Hongchen bid the two deans goodbye and led the Sun Moon students skyward.
Yan Shaozhe watched them vanish at the horizon, then turned to the safely returned exchange students with a warm smile.
"Children, welcome home!"
Most Shrek students had grown to love the academy as their home through daily education. Yan Shaozhe's words filled their hearts with warmth. He Caitou and Huo Yuhao even had tears in their eyes and kept wiping them away.
During this collective moment of emotion, Ling Bai, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng seemed rather awkward. Xian Lin Er pulled Ning Tian aside to fuss over her, while Wu Feng seized the opportunity to interrogate Ling Bai about how he had charmed yet another beauty.
Since childhood, Ling Bai had been extraordinarily skilled at handling Wu Feng. With her tough-talking but soft-hearted nature, combined with her long-standing habit of following his every word, Wu Feng not only failed to extract any information but was instead duped by Ling Bai into having to 'squeeze juice' diligently every day.
The logic was simple. If she kept him utterly exhausted, he would have no energy to flirt with other girls.
As evening approached, the group flew toward Shrek Academy.
After more than two years of study, the exchange students had made tremendous progress. The flying Spirit Guidance Devices they had created were exquisite and practical, far surpassing the standards of Shrek's Spirit Guidance Department.
Yan Shaozhe saw this and deeply appreciated Elder Mu's farsightedness. The exchange students were like seeds; as long as they sprouted and bloomed, Shrek Academy's future would grow increasingly prosperous.
Huo Yuhao had also exceeded expectations on the secret mission the academy had assigned him.
Over a thousand blueprints for Spirit Guidance Devices ranging from Class 3 to Class 7 would support the department's future development. This achievement had led the Sea God Pavilion to unanimously approve Huo Yuhao as the youngest member in its history.
Yan Shaozhe quietly shared this good news with Huo Yuhao and asked about his current cultivation level. The answer was Rank 49.
Without the deep meditation that followed his sparring with Ji Juechen in the other timeline, Huo Yuhao had effectively gained an extra half-year of cultivation time. He had also returned to the Clear Sky Clan with Wang Dong Er and successfully absorbed the Frigid Jade Essence Bed. Despite missing various opportunities, his cultivation level was only a few ranks lower than it might have been otherwise.
The weather was splendid, with clear skies stretching endlessly. However, on the distant horizon, a massive patch of dark clouds drifted toward the Shrek contingent at an astonishing speed.
As the clouds drew closer, their vast scale became increasingly apparent. They gradually condensed in midair, taking the shape of a dragon and a tiger.
"D-Death Abyss Douluo!"
Huo Yuhao instantly recognized the devilishly charming figure standing atop the Bone Dragon. His voice rose involuntarily to a high pitch.
He had been traumatized by Death Abyss Douluo's extortion and thought the man was brazen enough to rob him right in front of Shrek's two deans and the Seraphim, the nemesis of all Evil Spirit Masters!
"When addressing me in public, use my title. You should call me Deputy Cult Leader Death Abyss."
Death Abyss Douluo's voice boomed like thunder. The Death Abyss Bone Dragon reared its head and released an ear-splitting roar as terrifying dragon might flooded outward, sweeping over the Shrek group like a tidal wave.
"So that's Death Abyss Douluo… "
The two deans' expressions grew solemn. Although Elder Xuan's defeat back then had largely stemmed from his own guilt, Death Abyss Douluo's combat strength was beyond question.
No matter how Jing Hongchen had tried to suppress the news, word of Death Abyss Douluo swaggering into Illustrious Virtue Hall to steal its treasures and killing two Body Sect Titled Douluo had spread like wildfire. These feats had cemented his reputation as the continent's number one Evil Spirit Master.
"Fan Yu, protect the children!"
Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin Er shot skyward, their Martial Spirits—a Bright Phoenix and an Azure Flame Dragon—manifesting around them. As teachers and elders, they would never stand by while Evil Spirit Masters threatened their students!
"Scorpion Tiger, I'll hold off Bright Phoenix Douluo and Martial God Douluo. You go down and kill the Seraphim!"
Death Abyss Douluo struck a righteous pose, as if nobly taking on two opponents by himself.
"Are you sure you're not sending me to my death?"
Zhang Peng asked feebly.
Both Ling Bai and Death Abyss Douluo froze.
This old fellow shouldn't be this smart!
Zhang Peng continued with a pained expression, "Deputy Cult Leader, I know I've offended you before. That was only because I was following someone else's orders. Please forgive me.
Evil Phoenix Douluo died miserably at the Seraphim's hands. How could I possibly defeat him? Besides, didn't the Cult Leader say that senior would come with us? We're just here to assist. Heaven will take care of the Seraphim."
"Fine, fine, just get on with it!"
With his plan to sacrifice Zhang Peng having failed, Death Abyss Douluo had no interest in prolonging the argument.
Strictly speaking, Zhang Peng was not truly an Evil Spirit Master, or Elder Mu would never have spared him. The feedback the Seraphim would gain from killing him would not even match that from an ordinary Evil Douluo, so letting him live a few more days made little difference.
The four Super Douluo paired off and clashed. Dragon roars, tiger howls, and phoenix cries filled the air as the world itself seemed to change color. Everyone craned their necks skyward. A battle between Super Douluo was rare enough—how much more extraordinary to witness four of them simultaneously!
Wu Feng narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the battle. "Dean Xian has the upper hand. Dean Yan…
Uh, looks like he's being chased all over the sky by Death Abyss Douluo."
Huo Yuhao could not help but break into a sweat for Yan Shaozhe. Though both were Rank 96 Titled Douluo, Death Abyss Douluo possessed Ultimate Death and suppressed Yan Shaozhe with ease.
The Bright Phoenix's tail feathers were about to be plucked bare by the Death Abyss Bone Dragon!
"Um, Senior... Senior Ling, maybe you could help Dean Yan?" Huo Yuhao asked tentatively.
If Yan Shaozhe fell, wouldn't he be at Death Abyss Douluo's mercy? With that frightening thought, he forced himself to ask Ling Bai for help.
Ling Bai ignored him, his gaze locking onto a certain point in space as he said indifferently, "Since you're already here, stop hiding."
A figure approached at an unhurried pace. Fan Yu, the only teacher present, felt his muscles tense. The newcomer seemed wrapped in darkness, and even with a Spirit Douluo's cultivation, Fan Yu could not see through him at all.
The figure was an elderly man of imposing stature with meticulously combed silver hair. His face glowed with the rosy complexion of an infant, and he clasped his hands behind his back. The spirit power waves from the four Super Douluo's battle dissipated upon reaching him, unable to advance even a single step.
Rank 99 Limit Douluo, the Darkness Holy Dragon of the Black and White Twin Holy Dragons—Dragon Emperor Douluo, Long Xiaoyao!
Long Xiaoyao gazed down at the Shrek group, his voice calm and unwavering as it carried across the distance:
"This old man is Long Xiaoyao. I have no wish to create needless slaughter. For Brother Mu's sake, the Seraphim stays. The rest of you from Shrek Academy may leave."
"Long Xiaoyao?!"
Yan Shaozhe spared him a glance even amid the chaos. As Elder Mu's foremost disciple, he had heard of the Dragon Emperor Douluo's tremendous strength directly from Elder Mu himself.
He wracked his brain but couldn't fathom what earth-shaking deed Ling Bai had done in the Sun Moon Empire to draw the attention of Scorpion Tiger Douluo, Death Abyss Douluo, and Dragon Emperor Douluo—three Titled Douluo, each more infamous than the last!
Long Xiaoyao's mercy extended only to Elder Mu and his disciples. Toward Ling Bai, he showed no leniency. A three-meter-wide black hole appeared before Ling Bai without warning, its endless devouring darkness poised to swallow him whole.
Even with his Martial Spirit's absolute advantage, the current Ling Bai was no match for a Limit Douluo of Long Xiaoyao's caliber.
To Long Xiaoyao's surprise, he had expected Ling Bai to struggle. Instead, Ling Bai had not even released his Martial Spirit. He merely smiled, as if already accepting his fate—if death came, so be it.
Suddenly, beneath Ling Bai's feet, a seed sprouted. A towering, emerald tree burst from the ground, lifting him to stand between earth and sky. Its branches spread in all directions, weaving a dense net that seemed to support the heavens themselves!
An old yet ramrod-straight figure appeared silently in midair, hovering quietly as if he had always belonged there. He stretched out a large hand and clenched his fist, and the black hole instantly shattered.
"This old man stands here. Who dares harm my disciple!"
Rank 99 Limit Douluo, Jianmu Douluo, Zhou Jiren!