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Chapter 292 - Chapter 292 – Xuanzi: Heaven Bless Shrek Academy!

Not long after, Zhang Lexuan awoke.

Under the watchful eyes of Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan, a golden full moon slowly rose behind her. Even the radiance of her two purple, five black, and two red rings paled in comparison. This golden light was not the brilliance of a light attribute; it was the unique, soft yet solemn glow of moonlight itself.

Lexuan's temperament had also undergone a remarkable transformation. Once, she had been a gentle and refined woman. Now, however, an aura of majesty surrounded her—unyielding, awe-inspiring, impossible to look upon directly. She seemed like a royal heir not yet crowned, yet already commanding the dignity of a sovereign, leaving none who beheld her with any thought of offense.

On her shoulder sat the Jade Emperor Purple Lily in her flower fairy form. She lazily swung her little legs as she reclined, wearing luxurious robes of violet and gold embroidered with the North Star. Her green hair, red eyes, and delicate face exuded the same aura of sacred majesty as Lexuan herself.

"Lexuan-jie, congratulations!" Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan exclaimed in delight after a moment of stunned silence. They hurried forward, their faces alight with joy. "You've officially stepped into the Title Douluo realm! So—have you thought of a title for yourself yet?"

"Hehe, not yet," Lexuan replied with a small smile as she withdrew her martial soul and rings. "Why don't you both help me choose one?"

"Great idea!" Jiang Nannan clapped her hands eagerly. "Let me think…"

"Not so fast." Zhu Ziyang chuckled helplessly. "Lexuan-jie, after forming the contract with the Jade Emperor Purple Lily, what benefits did you receive?"

"Plenty!" Lexuan's eyes sparkled with excitement. "My soul power has already reached Rank 92. My martial soul evolved into the Imperial Moon, and I even obtained a head soul bone!"

"Ah! Chacha gave me a head bone too!" Jiang Nannan's face lit up as she exclaimed, "Lexuan-jie, we're really in sync!"

"Yes, indeed!" Lexuan agreed happily. "Now both of us have head soul bones!"

"Congratulations to both beauties," Zhu Ziyang laughed warmly.

Then, a thought struck him. He turned to Jiang Nannan and asked, "Nannan, how many soul bones do you have now?"

"Four," she answered without hesitation. "The Moonshadow Rabbit Right Leg Bone, the Purple Evil Spirit Left Leg Bone, the Spirit Moon Phantom Torso Bone, and the Osmanthus Immortal Tea's Head Bone. Why do you ask, Brother?"

"That won't do." Zhu Ziyang ruffled her hair affectionately. "To inherit a god's position, you'll need all six pieces. From now on, keep an eye out for a left arm bone and a right arm bone."

"I understand!" Nannan nodded obediently.

"Alright then. Let's return to the Academy." Zhu Ziyang smiled.

"Okay!" Nannan and Lexuan replied in unison.

"Jiaojiao, we'll be going now," Zhu Ziyang called back toward the Fiery Apricot.

"I know," Fiery Apricot replied. Then she added mischievously, "Oh, and do remind Yiyi for me—she'd better hurry and reach Soul Sage soon!"

"I'll see to it." Zhu Ziyang nodded. With that, he wrapped his left arm around Nannan and his right around Lexuan, and with a thought, all three vanished from the Icefire Yin-Yang Well.

"Finally! That troublemaker is gone!" Qiluo Tulip exhaled in relief once they disappeared. If she had a human form, she would've been patting her chest to calm her pounding heart.

When she had steadied herself, she turned to Fiery Apricot. "Jiaojiao, do you really mean to leave as well?"

"Yes," Fiery Apricot answered with firm resolve.

"…Very well. I won't try to persuade you anymore," Qiluo Tulip sighed. "I just hope you won't regret it."

"Hmph! Better to fight for our own chance than to cling to empty promises from that person," Fiery Apricot retorted coldly.

"Is that so?" Qiluo Tulip's expression shifted into something almost human—a mixture of envy, jealousy, and scorn.

"Oh, by the way, Lou'er—that is, Bingbing—told me something," Fiery Apricot added as if remembering suddenly. "Zhu Ziyang has already caught the attention of a god. He's undergoing a divine trial right now!"

"What?!" Qiluo Tulip froze in shock, eager to demand more details. But Fiery Apricot had already slipped back into the spring, refusing to answer further.

Qiluo Tulip was left deeply unsettled…

After leaving the Icefire Yin-Yang Well, Zhu Ziyang, Nannan, and Lexuan sped straight toward Shrek Academy.

On the way, Nannan asked curiously, "Brother, how did Fiery Apricot end up tied to Qian Lingyi?"

"The last time I came to the Well, Yiyi was with me. Fiery Apricot and Yiyi hit it off instantly. From then on, Fiery Apricot decided to become her soul spirit," Zhu Ziyang explained with a smile.

"Oh, I see. What good luck she has!" Nannan muttered with a faint trace of jealousy.

"Oho, our Nannan is jealous!" Lexuan teased playfully, slipping to her side and taking her hand.

"Lexuan-jie!" Nannan's cheeks flushed red as she stomped her foot in mock outrage.

"Hehe, alright, I'll stop teasing you." Lexuan giggled. "But really, Ziyang is so outstanding—it's only natural he'll attract other girls' affections. Think of Xiaotao, of Xu Jiujou from the Star Luo Empire, of Yiyi. All of them feel the same way. What you should do is hold fast to his heart, so no one else can steal him away."

"I will! I promise I'll never let him be taken!" Nannan declared with conviction. "Lexuan-jie, you'll help me, won't you?"

"Of course." Lexuan nodded without hesitation. Then the two women exchanged a glance, both smiling slyly at Zhu Ziyang.

Zhu Ziyang, listening to their conversation, could only sigh inwardly—whether to laugh or to cry, he didn't know.

When the three returned to Shrek Academy, they rested for a single day before preparing to depart once more.

But before leaving, Zhu Ziyang and Nannan sought out Xuanzi.

"Ziyang, Nannan—what's all this secrecy? And dragging me all the way to Elder Mu's former residence, no less?" Xuanzi asked, curiosity and confusion mingling on his weathered face.

"Elder Xuan, it's nothing grave," Zhu Ziyang said calmly. "We just wanted to let you know: Nannan and I are both undergoing divine trials. That means we may soon have to leave Douluo Continent for a time."

"What?!" Xuanzi nearly dropped the chicken leg in his hand. His eyes bulged in shock, disbelief plain across his face. "What did you just say? You're not joking with this old man, are you?"

"I said that Nannan, Lexuan-jie, Yiyi, and I plan to set out across the sea," Zhu Ziyang replied with a light laugh.

"Not that part!" Xuanzi's voice grew urgent. "The sentence before that—what did you say you and Nannan are doing?"

"The divine trial," Zhu Ziyang repeated with a smile. "You heard me correctly."

"This… this… Heaven bless Shrek!" Xuanzi finally understood that Zhu Ziyang was not jesting but speaking the truth. His emotions surged wildly, and for a long while he could not find the words. At last he managed, "Besides the two of you, who else knows?"

"Lexuan-jie knows—she accepted her own red trial at the same time as Nannan accepted hers, though Nannan's is a god-level trial. Elder Mu also knew. And now, only you."

"I see." Xuanzi drew in a long, steadying breath. "Thank you for trusting me. Rest assured—this secret will stay buried in this old man's heart until the day you depart."

"Thank you, Elder Xuan," Zhu Ziyang and Nannan said sincerely. "We told you so you wouldn't worry for us. For the next few years, we may not be in Douluo Continent at all."

"You've chosen to tell only me—that means you don't want the rest of us old fellows interfering. So I won't offer any unnecessary aid." Xuanzi's voice grew firm, reassuring. "But know this: you may leave Douluo without fear. We will protect everything here in your stead."

"Mn!" Both Ziyang and Nannan nodded heavily.

With matters at the Academy settled, Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Zhang Lexuan, and Qian Lingyi departed Shrek City—this time, it might be years before they returned.

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