Word Count: 2,798 Words
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Three months later, at Shrek Academy.
On Sea God Island, the morning sun peeked through wispy, cotton-like clouds at the horizon. Inner Courtyard students emerged from their wooden cabins, having concluded a night of meditative cultivation, to commence a new day of training.
Two male students, newly admitted to the Inner Courtyard, had not yet shed the jogging habit they developed in the Outer Courtyard. Dressed in sportswear, they ran laps around Sea God Island.
"Beep beep!"
The taller of the Inner Courtyard freshmen suddenly nudged his good buddy, who was running with his head down, and uttered the secret code they had used for six years in the Outer Courtyard.
Shrek's Outer Courtyard had taught its students one hundred and eight different running postures, so many students often came out voluntarily for a morning run. This secret code signified that a beauty was nearby.
Hearing the 'beep beep,' the shorter, sturdier freshman caught on immediately. He stole a glance in the direction his friend was wildly hinting at with his eyes, and just one look was enough to leave a lasting impression.
Sitting on the sloping lawn of Sea God Island and gazing at the morning sea was indeed a beauty. The shorter freshman had only been on Sea God Island for a few days and had only managed a hurried glimpse, not even seeing her face in full. Still, he could swear this girl possessed a beauty he had never seen in the Outer Courtyard.
It was like catching a fleeting glimpse of a graceful figure on a long street before she vanished into the vast sea of people—a hazy, dreamlike beauty.
"The quality of Inner Courtyard Senior Sisters is so high! I want to have a sweet romance with a Senior Sister..."
The shorter freshman could not help but voice his innermost thoughts. He wanted to be the chewing gum on the Senior Sister's shoe, following wherever she went.
"Go ask Senior Sister her name and whether she has a boyfriend!"
The taller freshman started egging his friend on.
"I'm a little scared..."
"Miss this village, and you won't find this shop! Don't regret it later!"
"I..."
The shorter freshman carefully eyed the delightful scene. Those sun-kissed long legs on the grassy slope shone dazzlingly against the green. The sunlight reflecting off her snow-white skin was so bright he dared not sneak more than a glance.
"The Senior Sister is so graceful. If you two don't go, I will."
A hand suddenly rested on the shoulders of both Inner Courtyard freshmen. They turned their heads stiffly and saw an exceptionally handsome youth with the corners of his mouth curved upwards, his pupils glinting with a golden light, and a meaningful smile on his face.
The two were greatly startled and immediately leaped left and right to create distance. Being approached so silently was not a good sign; if the youth could place his hands on their shoulders, he could just as easily pluck off their heads.
"You are! Senior... Senior Brother Ling Bai!"
The taller freshman, upon recognizing the face, blurted out the name, his voice a mixture of surprise and fear.
"You recognize me?" Ling Bai asked with a smile.
"Of course, of course! Director Ma instructed us all before enrollment. Senior Brother Ling has golden hair and golden eyes and is prettier than any girl. If anyone in the Inner Courtyard dares to provoke you, she wouldn't mind personally giving them a lesson in ethics and conduct.
Senior Brother Yao and Senior Brother Gongyang, who guided us during orientation, also said that if you accidentally offend Big Senior Sister in the Inner Courtyard, she might not hold it against you. But if you offend Senior Brother Ling Bai, those crazy people chasing him will definitely make your Inner Courtyard life a living hell."
The two freshmen trembled. Back in the Outer Courtyard, they'd been core students who received attention, but in the Inner Courtyard, they were at the bottom of the food chain. In the words of Ma Xiaotao and the others, the fellow before them was practically the little tyrant of the Inner Courtyard, with countless underlings, bullying men and dominating women.
Ling Bai looked at the two freshmen who were scared to the point of nearly wetting their pants and suddenly felt a bit helpless. So this was how his reputation had gotten ruined.
"Alright, continue your run."
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
The two bowed at a ninety-degree angle and watched as Ling Bai approached the Senior Sister who was like their dream lover. The shorter freshman wailed inwardly; love had come quickly but retreated just as swiftly. The Spirit Master world did not favor underdog stories; with Ling Bai around, the Senior Sister would never have eyes for him.
Ling Bai slowly walked up behind the woman admiring the morning sea. Looking down, he saw golden sunlight filling the delicate, fair collarbones beneath her shirt. It was a dazzling, mesmerizing sight.
"Elder Sister's charm is really something. Just sitting here quietly is enough to attract boys' confessions."
The morning breeze stirred Han Ruoruo's hair and the collar of her shirt. She replied calmly, "A thirty-year-old woman, what charm is there to speak of?
You, on the other hand—that Sun Moon exchange student, Meng Hongchen, has been running to the Ancient Golden Tree every day for the last three months, rain or shine. Since outsiders aren't allowed in, she just waits outside the door, stubbornly holding out until you see her and accept the 'loving breakfast' she brings."
"Elder Sister, why does that sound a bit sour to me?" Ling Bai gently kneaded Han Ruoruo's fragrant shoulder.
Han Ruoruo snorted softly. "I'm telling you to be more careful. In my opinion, Meng Hongchen isn't as silly and sweet as she appears on the surface; rather, she's a shrewd little girl."
"Yes, yes, thank you for your concern, Elder Sister."
"You're just humoring me. Those girls orbit around you all day, both openly and secretly, and I can see you're enjoying it."
"How about I trouble Elder Sister to help me keep them at bay then?" Ling Bai leaned in slightly, bringing his face close to Han Ruoruo's crystal-like earlobe and breathed warm air into her ear.
Han Ruoruo extended a finger and, without looking, flicked him on the forehead.
Ling Bai rubbed his reddened forehead and asked, "What did you hit me for?"
"For teasing your Elder Sister."
"Hmm, that was deserved then."
"Aren't you heading to the Surveillance Pavilion to receive an assignment? Let's go."
Han Ruoruo stood up and very naturally wrapped her arm around Ling Bai's, pressing close as they continued forward. Between the contact of their limbs, their clothes brushed against their skin, and they could clearly perceive each other's warmth under the sunlight.
A few Inner Courtyard students training nearby noticed them. At first, they thought it was just an ordinary couple, but upon looking closer and realizing it was Ling Bai and Han Ruoruo, they nearly choked and spat out their breakfast. They quickly averted their gazes, then secretly glanced at them with excited eyes.
After his Seraphim evolved, Ling Bai had once again thrown himself into the Inner Courtyard's Spirit Dueling Arena. Apart from Zhang Lexuan, Han Ruoruo, and Ma Xiaotao, three semi-retired Inner Courtyard students, almost everyone in the Inner Courtyard had been beaten by him, including the three Spirit Saints: Wu Ming, Gu Fan, and Hua Yao.
Shrek's Inner Courtyard revered strength above all. Ling Bai had clearly replaced Zhang Lexuan, becoming the new leader of the Inner Courtyard. At the same time, a group of die-hard followers had gathered around him, and not a single voice of resistance could be heard.
Meanwhile, the private life of the top student became a hot topic of discussion among the Inner Courtyard students during their leisure time. The first to bear the brunt was the Sun Moon exchange student, Meng Hongchen. She was like a ten-thousand-ton bomb, detonating the previously hidden rivalries as soon as she arrived.
Meng Hongchen used herself as bait and directly lured out the fiery-tempered Ma Xiaotao and the openly ambitious Dugu Lin. Ling Luochen observed in secret for a month before finally being unable to restrain herself and, feigning a coincidence, challenged Meng Hongchen in the Spirit Dueling Arena.
Being slightly older, Han Ruoruo maintained her composure. She remained calm and rational, never falling for Meng Hongchen's little tricks, keeping to her daily cultivation routine while quietly taking note of everything around her.
The two of them entered the Surveillance Pavilion together. Elder Li, the Pavilion Master, was nowhere to be seen. Han Ruoruo walked straight into the secret room and retrieved the brocade box containing the red-grade surveillance assignments.
"Elder Li is planning to retire and enjoy his twilight years, so I'll be taking over the Surveillance Pavilion for the time being."
Han Ruoruo said with a smile. "Little Junior Brother, you're a red-grade Guardian. Each red-grade surveillance assignment counts as five white-grade ones. You only need six to meet the requirement of thirty surveillance assignments.
In these three months, you have completed three red-grade surveillance assignments. Adding the previous Calamitous Ice Devil and the team assignment Death God Envoy, today is your last one.
The three conditions for participating in Shrek Inner Courtyard's graduation examination are: spirit power breaking through to Rank 60, thirty surveillance assignments, and a black Spirit Dueling Badge. So, after completing this assignment, you can formally apply to the academy for graduation."
"Time flies so quickly. The battle with Chu Qingtian when I first enrolled is still vivid in my mind, and now I'm about to graduate," Ling Bai said casually as he flipped through the red assignments.
"Is there any reluctance in your heart?"
"Not toward Shrek Academy itself, but certainly toward some people in Shrek Academy, like you, Elder Sister."
Han Ruoruo's beautiful eyes curved into crescents; clearly, this directness pleased her greatly.
"This assignment, Jialing City..."
Ling Bai's finger suddenly paused. The location of this assignment made his mind momentarily dazed. Jialing City was Jialing Pass. That year, during the Continental Elite Spirit Master Academy Tournament finals, the Angel God had said that after dealing with the Death Abyss Spider Emperor, he should make a trip to Jialing Pass; someone had been waiting for him there all along.
"This is it."
Ling Bai felt it was time.
Han Ruoruo picked up the assignment and glanced at it, then shook her head. "No, this is a team assignment. The enemy is an Evil Spirit Emperor. At least three Inner Courtyard Spirit Emperors are required to ensure safety."
"An Evil Spirit Emperor... Elder Sister, you seem to be insulting me."
Ling Bai narrowed his eyes. He was not boasting; he could slice an Evil Spirit Emperor into eight pieces with two sword strikes.
Han Ruoruo let out a light laugh and explained, "Naturally, I believe you. But ever since the Death God Envoy incident, the academy has become extremely vigilant against Evil Spirit Masters.
How about this? Elder Sister happens to be troubled by something recently. Although the Sun Moon exchange students are temporary Inner Courtyard students, they have been demanding to receive the same training as Inner Courtyard students, clamoring to go out and perform surveillance assignments.
It's fine for the others, but the Hongchen siblings have special identities. They must return safely. Do Elder Sister a favor and take them with you to carry out the Jialing City assignment. With the three of you, the assignment requirements are met."
Ling Bai nodded. The Hongchen siblings were formidable in strength; few in Shrek's Inner Courtyard could fight better than them among Spirit Emperors.
Moreover, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen had made visible progress in these three months, leading the Sun Moon exchange students in desperately absorbing Shrek's abundant Spirit Master knowledge.
In terms of practical combat, Xiao Hongchen had set his sights on Ling Bai, while Meng Hongchen alternated her focus between Ling Bai and Dugu Lin. The rest had each found someone to chase after. They fought and lost, lost and fought again, sticking to their targets like cockroaches that refused to die.
Their efforts and sweat had turned the tide of Shrek students' opinions about the Sun Moon exchange students, gradually changing from initial hostility and disdain to admiration. Over time, some even started becoming friends with them.
The early tension had faded. The only remaining discord was a Sun Moon exchange student madly pursuing Jiang Nannan, which angered Xu Sanshi so much that he shouted daily, "I'm going to fight you in the Spirit Dueling Arena to determine who's superior and settle life and death!"
Ling Bai's relationship with the Hongchen siblings was decent, especially after eating Meng Hongchen's 'loving breakfast' a few times. To be fair, her cooking skills were not bad. A pretty girl who could cook was definitely a plus.
Taking them along to complete an assignment seemed fine. Ling Bai agreed.
"Alright, I'll go find them then. See you later, Elder Sister."
"Be careful."
...
The Hongchen siblings were battling in the Spirit Dueling Arena when they heard they could finally take on a surveillance assignment. They immediately grinned from ear to ear. When Meng Hongchen learned she would be going with Ling Bai, she was so overjoyed she leapt three feet into the air, dashed back to her wooden cabin to wash up and put on a full face of makeup, changed into a fashionable yet alluring outfit, and bolted to the agreed meeting point at the East City Gate.
Xiao Hongchen, seeing Meng Hongchen decked out in full battle gear, instantly covered his face and sighed, secretly vowing to watch his little sister closely when they stayed at a hotel to prevent her from shamelessly sneaking into Ling Bai's bed in the middle of the night.
Ling Bai merely glanced at Meng Hongchen and said, "Time is limited. We should set off as soon as possible. We'll discuss the detailed assignment content on the way."
The three of them were of Spirit Emperor cultivation but all possessed exceptional flying abilities. The Seraphim was known as the ruler of the skies; few Martial Spirits could compare to its flight speed. The Hongchen siblings' Class 6 Spirit Thrusters were products of Illustrious Virtue Hall, not much slower than a Spirit Saint's and also saved spirit power.
High in the sky, Ling Bai introduced the assignment to the Hongchen siblings:
"Our destination for this assignment is Jialing City. The target is an Evil Spirit Emperor, codenamed Soul Reaper.
According to Shrek Academy's investigation, the Soul Reaper should have a hidden lair within Jialing City, where he conducts evil rituals of absorbing, refining, and sacrificing souls.
He has already killed seventy-eight innocent civilians and Spirit Masters, snatching away their souls. Without exception, all are female, and most victims share two characteristics: an excellent appearance, and they frequented bars and dance halls."
"Is the Evil Spirit Master an ugly man who developed a vengeful mentality because he couldn't find a girlfriend?" Xiao Hongchen frowned as he analyzed.
"That's a reasonable theory."
Ling Bai did not deny it. "But these bars and dance halls... his method of selecting targets probably isn't just based on looks."
"Evil Spirit Masters are all a bunch of terrifying perverts! I'm so pretty, I must be at the top of Soul Reaper's list. Ling Bai, you have to protect me!"
Meng Hongchen never missed any chance for intimate contact. She tried to burrow into Ling Bai's embrace like a little lamb.
At this, Xiao Hongchen quickly flew over and grabbed his sister by the back of her collar, determined not to let her throw herself away so cheaply. Ling Bai smacked his lips thoughtfully; Meng Hongchen's attack range seemed rather broad. Was he also a terrifying pervert in her eyes?
Ling Bai took out two rings and tossed them to the Hongchen siblings. "These are Shrek Guardian insignias. Drip a drop of your blood onto the ring and it will bond with your bloodline. Inner Courtyard students can use their Guardian's Ring to check if another's ring is being used by the right person and confirm their identity.
Furthermore, the Guardian's Ring is also a storage-type Spirit Guidance Device. Inside, there is information for this surveillance assignment, such as the basic information of each victim and their place of death, as well as a complete set of Shrek-exclusive equipment. Whether you use it or not is up to you; I won't force you.
At the speed of a Class 6 Spirit Thruster, it will take two days to get from Shrek City to Jialing City. The Evil Spirit Master's whereabouts are elusive, so we can use the journey to plan our approach carefully."