Zhu Ziyang became an Inner Court student without any surprises.
After entering the Inner Court, although students were still divided by grade, there were no longer class divisions. Everyone only needed to remember their grade and complete a certain number of academic tasks each year. Compared to the Outer Court, the Inner Court offered far more freedom. Except for a few academy-hosted events that everyone was required to attend, all other time was left to students' discretion.
"Teacher!" Zhu Ziyang found Mu En and respectfully greeted him.
"Mm! Now that you've entered the Inner Court, focus on your cultivation." Mu En looked at Zhu Ziyang with great satisfaction and said, "Spend your mornings cultivating Monarch Over The World. The afternoons are yours to manage however you like—do whatever you wish."
"I understand, Teacher," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"Alright, go settle into your dormitory," Mu En said.
Zhu Ziyang didn't linger. He returned to his wooden house and began tidying up. He didn't have much luggage—just bedding, clothes, shoes, and books. Looking at the over a hundred books stacked neatly on the shelf at the head of his bed, Zhu Ziyang felt a deep sense of pride. These books were actually meant to camouflage the Dimensional Library. They were all newly published within the last hundred years and not yet included in the Library's collection, so in a way, they served as a useful supplement.
Once he finished organizing his room, Zhu Ziyang descended the Golden Tree. At the grassy base, he found Xingcai lounging leisurely under the shade, enjoying the sunlight.
"Lord Ziyang, you're back!" Xingcai saw him and immediately stood up happily, running to his side with excitement.
"Mm!" Zhu Ziyang smiled, reaching out to pat Xingcai's head. "Looks like Senior Sister has been taking good care of you. You've grown taller!"
"Really?" Xingcai's eyes lit up with surprise. "Mama said growing taller means my strength is improving! Hehe, that's great! The light aura here is much richer than in the Star Dou Forest. I really like it here!"
"That's good," Zhu Ziyang said. Xingcai had been here for over two months and had already adapted to the lifestyle. The aura of the Golden Tree was a great help to her. Zhu Ziyang could sense that her cultivation had reached 3,050 years—an increase of fifty years in just two months. That kind of speed would leave most soul beasts trembling with envy.
After playing with Xingcai for a while, noon arrived, and Zhu Ziyang headed to the dining hall for lunch.
"Ziyang!"
Just as Zhu Ziyang reached the entrance of the dining hall, a voice called out from behind. He turned around to see Zhang Lexuan.
"Senior Sister, long time no see!" Zhu Ziyang was a little surprised. A smile appeared on his face as he greeted her. This was his first time seeing Zhang Lexuan since returning from the Star Dou Forest. Her complexion was still a bit pale—damage to her life force and martial soul essence wasn't so easy to recover from. He couldn't help but ask with concern, "Senior Sister, you haven't recovered yet?"
"Cough, cough, I'm mostly fine now." Zhang Lexuan walked up beside him, waving her hand with a smile. "Elder Zhuang gave me a bottle of Life Source. After taking it, my life force is mostly healed. Now I just need to rest a while, and my martial soul will recover too."
"Really? That's great!" Zhu Ziyang said sincerely. At the same time, he gained an even deeper appreciation for Shrek Academy's foundation. They even had divine medicines like the Life Source, capable of reviving the dead and regrowing flesh. That Elder Zhuang clearly wasn't as simple as he seemed.
"Come on, I'll treat you to lunch," Zhang Lexuan said with a smile.
"Really? Then I won't be polite!" Zhu Ziyang replied.
The two walked into the dining hall side by side. Not long after they entered, a golden-haired youth also stepped inside. He scanned the room, spotted Zhang Lexuan, and walked directly toward her with a brightened face.
"Senior Sister, do you remember me?" the golden-haired youth asked bashfully once he reached her, his face slightly red and his tone awkward.
Zhu Ziyang was surprised by the youth's demeanor. It was hard to believe that this shy young man was the same arrogant White Tiger Soul King he saw that morning.
"It's you, Yaoheng! Congratulations on passing the Inner Court exam!" Zhang Lexuan smiled as she spoke. "Want to join us for lunch?"
"Y-yes!" Dai Yueheng's face flushed as he agreed.
"Ziyang, this is Dai Yueheng," Zhang Lexuan introduced him casually. Dai Yueheng felt a twinge of disappointment at her indifferent tone but immediately became more determined.
"I know him, Senior Sister," Zhu Ziyang replied with a smile. "We took the Inner Court exam together today."
"Nice to meet you, Junior Brother Zhu," Dai Yueheng said. Though Zhu Ziyang was younger and less powerful, Dai Yueheng genuinely admired his talent.
"Nice to meet you, Senior Brother Dai," Zhu Ziyang replied.
The three of them chatted over lunch. Well, more accurately, Dai Yueheng was trying to strike up conversation with Zhang Lexuan, while Zhu Ziyang watched with amusement. He never imagined someone as proud and confident as Dai Yueheng could be so stiff and awkward when facing someone he liked. People really couldn't be judged by appearances.
—
Afternoon.
Outside the second-year Class One classroom of the Outer Court.
Zhu Ziyang's sudden appearance caused a stir among the students. Everyone crowded around him, peppering him with questions—mostly about the Inner Court. Zhu Ziyang just smiled and said nothing, refusing to reveal anything.
When the Class One students heard Zhu Ziyang had passed the Inner Court exam, they were all shocked but also felt it was perfectly natural. After all, he was only twelve years old and had already reached the Soul Ancestor level. If someone with talent like his couldn't enter the Inner Court, then what were the rest of them even working so hard for? They might as well go home.
After shooing away the curious crowd, Zhu Ziyang took Jiang Nannan by the hand and led her away from the teaching building.
"Hey, Zhu Ziyang, you're amazing!" Tang Ya and Beibei followed them out. Tang Ya slapped Zhu Ziyang's shoulder and spoke with admiration. "Can you tell us what kind of test the Inner Court uses? We'd love a little mental prep!"
"Combat. What else would it be?" Zhu Ziyang laughed.
"See? I told you it was combat, and you didn't believe me," Beibei said with a helpless look, as if terribly wronged.
"Eh-hehe~" Tang Ya laughed awkwardly. "Alright, alright, I was wrong."
"Brother, are we going to Shrek City?" Jiang Nannan noticed they were walking out of the academy and asked curiously.
"Yes. I heard from Sister Lexuan that there's a major auction being held today in Shrek City. We're going to broaden our horizons," Zhu Ziyang replied.
"An auction?"
"Sister Lexuan?"
Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya picked up on very different things. Jiang Nannan focused on the auction, while Tang Ya zeroed in on "Sister Lexuan."
"Yes, an auction. It's a big event hosted by the Treasure Pavilion and five major merchant guilds. I heard the final item is a hundred-thousand-year soul bone!" Zhu Ziyang explained.
"Zhu Ziyang, the Lexuan you're talking about... that's not Beibei's Lexuan, is it?" Tang Ya asked, her expression a little strange.
Beibei's expression turned uneasy. He didn't know why, but he always felt Tang Ya had a grudge against Sister Lexuan. They'd only met once, so where did this hostility come from? His brain felt like it was going to explode from the confusion.
"Yeah!" Zhu Ziyang answered instinctively, then noticed Beibei's expression and suddenly remembered something. Beibei and Zhang Lexuan were siblings, and Zhang Lexuan and Mu En shared a special relationship—more like grandfather and granddaughter than master and disciple. So what kind of relationship did that imply between Beibei and Mu En?
Now curious, he decided to ask Mu En when he had the chance.
The auction hosted by the Treasure Pavilion and the five major merchant guilds proceeded as scheduled. Once Zhu Ziyang and his companions entered, they couldn't stop talking. Their minds were blown by what they saw. The bidders were outrageously wealthy, casually raising bids by hundreds of thousands or even millions. It was as if money meant nothing to them.
(End of Chapter)
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