Under the trio's stunned and disbelieving gazes, Yan Shaozhe opened a new soul bone pouch.
A small orange-yellow soul bone floated out and hovered next to the Moonshadow Rabbit's right leg bone. It was clearly a different bone, distinct in shape and location.
"This is a left arm bone, taken from a 3,000-year-old Armored Scale Crocodile. You should know this type of soul beast—extremely strong and covered in tough armor. So, this soul bone can enhance a soul master's strength or constitution, and it comes with a defensive skill called Hardening," Yan Shaozhe said with a smile, clearly proud. "Soul bones are rare, but Shrek Academy's treasury has a decent number. Talented students like you are even more valuable than soul bones. So don't feel pressured—just accept it."
"…This…" The three looked at each other. After a moment of silence, Zhu Ziyang spoke:
"Thank you, Dean Yan, and the Academy, for your support. Then we'll gratefully accept. Xiao Ya, this soul bone is for you."
"Huh?" Tang Ya blinked in surprise and quickly refused:
"No way! I don't need strength enhancement."
"But you do need better defense and constitution, don't you?" Zhu Ziyang chuckled. "From what I know, eating Armored Scale Crocodile meat improves a soul master's constitution and tendon toughness. This bone, being the essence of its body, must be even better. So clearly, you are more suited to absorb it than I am. Besides, Nannan already received one. If I took this one too, that would be unfair to you."
"You… I…" Tang Ya was speechless. She wanted to argue but couldn't—she truly needed to improve her constitution.
She fell silent.
"Xiao Ya, just accept it," Jiang Nannan encouraged. "Brother Ziyang's decisions are never wrong. If he says it suits you, then it does."
"You really trust him unconditionally, huh?" Tang Ya looked helplessly at Jiang Nannan. This was a soul bone, and she just handed it over so easily. Tang Ya didn't know whether to praise Zhu Ziyang's generosity or mock Jiang Nannan's blind loyalty. In the end, she gave in:
"…Thank you, Ziyang."
Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilen witnessed everything. Yan Shaozhe's impression of Zhu Ziyang only deepened. Someone so composed and immune to temptation was clearly a person capable of great things—and exactly the kind of talent Shrek Academy needed.
"You kids really surprise me—in the best way," Yan Shaozhe said with a bright smile, clapping his hands. "Since you've decided who gets the soul bones, how about you fuse with them right here in Director Du's office? It's safer that way. I assume Director Du won't mind?"
"Not at all!" Du Weilen quickly agreed.
Hearing this, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya both looked to Zhu Ziyang, waiting for his word. He quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind and then said,
"Alright. Sorry for the trouble, Director Du."
Without hesitation, the two girls each picked up their respective soul bones and sat cross-legged on the floor to begin fusion.
The process started smoothly, and their breathing remained steady—everything was going well.
Seeing this, Zhu Ziyang's concerns melted away.
Noticing this, Yan Shaozhe exchanged a glance with Du Weilen and nodded. Then he said to Zhu Ziyang,
"Zhu Ziyang, come with me."
With that, he turned and walked out of the office.
Zhu Ziyang hesitated briefly. Du Weilen urged him:
"Go on—I'll keep an eye on things here."
Only then did Zhu Ziyang come to his senses and follow Yan Shaozhe out.
Yan Shaozhe didn't stop walking, so Zhu Ziyang simply followed along.
On the way, Zhu Ziyang pondered the reason behind all this. He had a vague guess—his Ultimate Martial Soul had drawn the attention of the Academy's top ranks. They were likely taking him to meet the elders of Sea God Pavilion.
That suited him perfectly. One of the key steps in his plan was finally falling into place.
What plan?
To become the ruler of Shrek Academy.
The ruler of the continent's top academy. Just the thought was exhilarating. And to accomplish this, his first step was to enter Shrek's core leadership circle.
So, what counted as core leadership?
He figured—a direct disciple of the Sea God Pavilion Master certainly would qualify.
But he wasn't sure whether the current master was the legendary Dragon God Douluo, or the one with the Gluttonous Divine Ox Martial Soul, the Gourmet Douluo.
Probably the Dragon God Douluo, he thought.
Soon, Zhu Ziyang and Yan Shaozhe reached the edge of Sea God Lake.
Yan Shaozhe turned to look at Zhu Ziyang. Seeing the boy's expression still calm and composed, he was even more impressed—unshaken even in the unknown.
With a smile, Yan Shaozhe asked,
"You seem quite calm. Aren't you curious about where I'm taking you?"
"Curious," Zhu Ziyang replied plainly, "but I believe you must have your reasons. And I doubt it's for anything bad."
"Haha! What a calm child!" Yan Shaozhe laughed, impressed.
Then he took Zhu Ziyang into the air, flying across the lake. They moved incredibly fast—so fast that before Zhu Ziyang could even blink, they had landed again on the other side.
Zhu Ziyang was stunned. Was this the power of a Titled Douluo? Covering hundreds of meters in an instant?
At the lakeside, Zhu Ziyang noticed a shabby old man and began to wonder about his identity. But Yan Shaozhe's next words cleared it up:
"Elder Xuan, please gather the other elders. The teacher may make an announcement soon."
Elder Xuan?! The Gourmet Douluo, Xuanzi?! Zhu Ziyang guessed silently.
"Got it," Elder Xuan replied without even lifting his head, casually gnawing on a chicken leg.
Yan Shaozhe didn't mind and led Zhu Ziyang deeper into Sea God Island.
Zhu Ziyang noticed many wooden buildings and several students in red uniforms—clearly inner court disciples. As they walked, these disciples stopped to greet Yan Shaozhe. Naturally, the sight of a first-year in white walking beside him drew a lot of curious stares.
Yan Shaozhe didn't stop to explain anything. The priority now was to bring Zhu Ziyang to his teacher.
Eventually, they reached the island's highest point, where a three-story wooden building came into view.
Sea God Pavilion, Zhu Ziyang thought.
Standing before the entrance, Yan Shaozhe respectfully called out:
"Teacher, I've brought him."