Jing Shaoyu's first night back at the academy passed just like that.
Early the next morning, he was unceremoniously kicked out of Gu Yue's room. With a wry smile and a shake of his head, he finally returned to his own room to freshen up.
Since Jing Shaoyu had brought back Soul Bones for the girls, they all chose to stay in their respective wooden cottages today to fuse the bones and consolidate their cultivation.
Jing Shaoyu wasn't idle either. Having just returned, he had many matters to handle and catch up on. First, he sought out Cai Yue'er to inform her of his safe return. Then, he headed to the Outer Academy to find Wu Zhangkong and Shen Yi, where he officially relinquished his position as class monitor.
Due to his prolonged absence, the first-year class—no, now the second-year class—had gone without a formal monitor all this time. Everyone else had already been promoted, leaving Luo Guixing as the sole acting monitor, which must have been quite the ordeal for him.
"Reporting!" Speak of the devil—Luo Guixing knocked on the door of Wu Zhangkong and Shen Yi's office.
"Come in," Shen Yi responded.
"Teacher, you called for me..." Luo Guixing stepped inside and began to ask, but before he could finish, he spotted Jing Shaoyu and exclaimed in surprise, "Monitor, you're back?!"
"Long time no see, Guixing," Jing Shaoyu replied with a smile and a nod.
Two years had passed, yet Luo Guixing hadn't changed much in appearance. He had grown taller, matured, and his demeanor had become even more composed, giving off an air of refined elegance.
"Yeah, it really has been a while," Luo Guixing answered dazedly, clearly unprepared for Jing Shaoyu's sudden return. However, being no ordinary person, he quickly regained his composure and turned to Shen Yi. "So, Teacher Shen, you called me here because of the monitor position?"
"Exactly," Shen Yi nodded. "Regarding the class monitor role, you and Jing Shaoyu should properly hand over responsibilities. From now on, you'll be the official monitor of our class."
Jing Shaoyu stepped forward at the right moment and patted Luo Guixing's shoulder. "You've worked hard."
Yet, Luo Guixing didn't seem as thrilled as one might expect. He smiled wryly and said, "Teacher Shen, perhaps it's better to assign the monitor position to another classmate. Otherwise, in a year's time, it'll just be a waste of effort."
"We'll deal with next year's matters when the time comes. For now, you're still a student of this class!" Shen Yi declared firmly, leaving no room for argument.
"Alright then," Luo Guixing conceded helplessly.
"Quite confident, aren't you?" Jing Shaoyu chuckled.
"Though I may not compare to you all, if I don't even have this much confidence, how can I ever hope to stand as your rival?" Luo Guixing replied with a calm, self-assured smile.
"Not bad. I'll be waiting for you all in the Inner Academy," Jing Shaoyu said lightly.
Luo Guixing's current Soul Power was at rank 49. Breaking through to Soul King within a year and becoming a One-Word Battle Armor Master was still a very plausible goal.
Back in the classroom, several students who were close to Luo Guixing immediately crowded around him.
"Guixing, what did Teacher Shen want with you?" Xie Xie, ever the gossip and still as lively as ever, asked with a grin. His Soul Power had now reached rank 48, placing him among the top students in the class.
"The monitor's back. Teacher Shen called me to hand over the monitor duties to him," Luo Guixing answered honestly, without hiding anything.
"What are you talking about? Some kind of tongue twister?" Xu Lizhi didn't react immediately, looking at Luo Guixing in confusion. As a genius Food-type Soul Master, Xu Lizhi's current Soul Power had reached level 47. For his age, achieving this level was already extremely impressive. A year ago, the academy's higher-ups had intended to specially recruit him into the Inner Academy, but he had refused.
Xu Lizhi's reasoning was simple—he and his team were one. He would never abandon his companions to enter the Inner Academy alone.
"It's Jing Shaoyu! He's back!" Xu Yu Cheng and Yang Nianxia, however, were far more perceptive. They shouted in unison, their eyes filled with surprise, excitement, and anticipation. He had finally returned—they had waited so long!
After Jing Shaoyu and his seven companions advanced to the Inner Academy, Xu Yu Cheng had become the strongest in their class. He was currently the only Soul King in the second grade, with Soul Power at level 52. The reason he hadn't advanced to the Inner Academy was partly to wait for the others, and partly because his Battle Armor wasn't yet complete.
Beside him, Yang Nianxia was now a level 49 Soul Grandmaster, just like Luo Guixing, with the potential to advance to Soul King within a year.
Although they had suffered a crushing defeat a year ago when they challenged the former class committee team in Jing Shaoyu's absence, it hadn't dampened their fighting spirit or enthusiasm. So, upon hearing of Jing Shaoyu's return, their first thought was to challenge him.
"That's right." Luo Guixing nodded, taking in his companions' reactions.
"What level is he at now?" Zheng Yiran asked curiously. As the only girl in the team, her strength wasn't the weakest—at least not in terms of Soul Power. At seventeen, she had reached level 48.
"No idea." Luo Guixing shook his head blankly, then ventured a guess. "He was already a Soul King when he left. Now, he should at least be level 55, maybe even higher?"
"I wouldn't rule out Soul Emperor," Zheng Yiran said, shaking her head. "I asked Siduo—Jing Shaoyu's Soul Power is higher than hers. And she's already a level 58 Soul King, so it's very likely he's a Soul Emperor."
"A Soul Emperor!" The group couldn't help but marvel. Xie Xie sighed, "We're all around seventeen or eighteen—how can the gap be so huge? Ugh!"
Luo Guixing, Xu Yu Cheng, and Yang Nianxia exchanged glances, each seeing the same helplessness and frustration in the others' eyes.
"What's everyone discussing so animatedly?" At that moment, the last member of their team finally arrived.
"Wu Lin, you're here." Xie Xie immediately filled Tang Wulin in. "Did you know? Jing Shaoyu is back!"
"Really?" Tang Wulin looked surprised, glancing at his companions in astonishment.
"Really." Luo Guixing nodded. "I just saw him."
Tang Wulin broke into a knowing smile. "Isn't that a good thing? Our opponents are complete now. When we defeat them in the future, there won't be any regrets, right?"
"Haha, Wu Lin, you're still so optimistic," Yang Nianxia said with a laugh.
"That's called confidence!" Tang Wulin declared. Though his Soul Power was the lowest among his companions at only level 45, his overall strength was the strongest—especially after unlocking the sixth seal of the Golden Dragon King within him, his combat prowess had skyrocketed.
He now had the confidence to face Jing Shaoyu head-on. Even if he couldn't defeat him, he wouldn't lose easily either.
"I really admire Wu Lin's confidence!" Zheng Yiran giggled. "If we don't even believe in ourselves, how can we hope to defeat Wu Siduo and the others?"
"Exactly!" Luo Guixing agreed. "As I've always said—let's go, we're the best!"
"Hahaha!" The seven of them burst into laughter.
"Oh, by the way, I have something else to tell you," Tang Wulin said with a proud grin. "I've finished forging the last piece of metal we need for our Battle Armor. From now on, we can focus on cultivating our Soul Power while completing our Battle Armor!"
"Really?! That's amazing!" The other six cheered in unison.
On the third day after Jing Shaoyu's return, he gathered with the girls in the Shrek Seven's activity room.
Thanks to the Soul Bones Jing Shaoyu had brought back, the girls had all gained one or two levels in Soul Power.
Their current Soul Power rankings were as follows: Jing Shaoyu, level 63; Gu Yue, level 61; Wu Siduo, level 61; Na'er, level 58; Ye Xinglan, level 57; Mo Hentian, level 56; and Xu Xiaoyan, level 54. Oh, and Lan Fozi was at level 57.
When Jing Shaoyu emerged from the Dragon Valley, his Soul Power had been at level 62. Over the three months of their return journey, he consolidated his foundation, and his Soul Power naturally progressed to level 63.
Xu Xiaoyan, who had fused with an external Soul Bone, didn't gain as much Soul Power and remained at level 54. However, the little girl was still overjoyed. In terms of value alone, an external Soul Bone was undoubtedly superior to a Torso Bone.
"Even though Brother Shaoyu is back, we'll proceed with the plan we previously set," Ye Xinglan announced in the meeting room.
"Agreed," Wu Siduo nodded.
"Then today's sparring session is between Xiao Mo and Fozi," Xu Xiaoyan added, tapping her chin thoughtfully as she looked at Mo Hentian and Lan Fozi.
"No problem!" Lan Fozi immediately responded, her pretty face brimming with confidence.
"I'm fine with it too," Mo Hentian replied.
"Great, let's go!" the girls chorused, standing up and heading out.
"Wait—no one's going to explain anything to me?" Jing Shaoyu sat dumbfounded in his seat, watching helplessly as the girls made decisions without him and left him behind. He called out in frustration.
"Ah!" Xu Xiaoyan feigned surprise, her tone teasing. "We thought you spent the last two nights in Sister Gu Yue's room to catch up on team matters! Was that not the case?"
"It must be because Sister Gu Yue is too captivating, making Shaoyu forget to ask. Can't blame him, can't blame him!" Wu Siduo pretended to defend him, but her words carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
"Ask Gu Yue—it's her responsibility!" Ye Xinglan was far more blunt, not even bothering to hide her displeasure.
Though Mo Hentian didn't speak, her stance beside Xu Xiaoyan, Wu Siduo, and Ye Xinglan made it clear she supported the three girls.
Jing Shaoyu was quite helpless, while Gu Yue's delicate face flushed slightly. How could they not understand? This was the girls expressing their dissatisfaction—displeased with Gu Yue monopolizing Jing Shaoyu and equally displeased with Jing Shaoyu favoring Gu Yue exclusively. Both of them were at fault here.
Na'er, on the other hand, was in a state of watching the drama unfold. She was currently torn—wanting more time with Jing Shaoyu for herself, yet also hoping he would spend more time with Gu Yue to influence her decisions. So, when Xu Xiaoyan and the other three girls launched their "protest," she chose to remain silent.
The four girls dragged Lan Fozi, who was also watching the show, out of the activity room. Jing Shaoyu gave a wry smile and looked at Gu Yue.
Gu Yue pressed her lips together and said expressionlessly, "Don't come tonight. I already said you're not welcome!"
"But clearly—" Jing Shaoyu was speechless. He wanted to argue that it was Gu Yue who had been clinging to him—how had it suddenly become his initiative? Hah, women!
Gu Yue clearly had no intention of letting him speak, cutting him off directly. "To help Lan Fozi integrate into the team faster, I've arranged for the others to take turns sparring and interacting with her. This way, we can learn more about her, and she can learn more about us. One round per month—we're already on the thirteenth round now."
"Hmm, not a bad method," Jing Shaoyu nodded in agreement. "So, should I participate too?"
"Of course!" Na'er walked over and hugged Jing Shaoyu's arm, saying sweetly, "Brother, you can switch with Gu Yue later. Gu Yue is scheduled for the last slot each month."
"Right," Gu Yue nodded silently.
"Got it." Jing Shaoyu understood and smiled. "Let's catch up with them now. We shouldn't fall too far behind."
The eight of them arrived at the indoor sparring area one after another. By the time Jing Shaoyu and the other two arrived, Mo Hentian and Lan Fozi were already engaged in combat.
Lan Fozi's Martial Soul, the Sea King Whale, was something Jing Shaoyu had never heard of before. Even in its manifested state, there wasn't anything particularly striking about it. Her face and hands were covered in strange, blue crystal-like patterns, and her skin emitted a faint blue glow. Beyond that, there were no other visible changes—just by appearance alone, it was impossible to tell what her Martial Soul was.
At the moment, several ribbon-like streams of water coiled around her body. As she moved, these streams lashed out like living creatures, constantly harassing Mo Hentian, who wielded a massive hammer.
"Interesting," Jing Shaoyu mused with a light chuckle. "How did the previous match between Weiwei and Lan Fozi end?"
"A draw," Gu Yue replied.
"Little Mo and Fozi each won six times," Na'er provided a more detailed answer.
"Oh?" Jing Shaoyu was surprised. "Extreme Water possesses extreme softness, while Weiwei's Sky-Hate Hammer follows a fierce and rigid path—though not quite at the level of extreme strength. For the two of them to end in a draw is genuinely surprising to me."
"Fozi's mastery over Extreme Water is still lacking," Xu Xiaoyan explained. "She only learned her Martial Soul was Extreme Water after coming to the academy."
"No wonder," Jing Shaoyu nodded, a flicker of suspicion flashing in his eyes. So, this Deep Sea Demon Whale Princess had left the ocean ahead of time—what exactly was she planning? She even went to great lengths to take human form and refine her attributes. Her ambitions must be enormous!
The battle in the sparring arena was heating up.
Behind Lan Fozi floated five black Soul Rings, with the second one flashing brightly. A stretch of azure water instantly spread beneath her feet, rapidly covering the entire arena. Even those outside could feel the dense moisture in the air.
Jing Shaoyu had always been sensitive to elemental fluctuations. He clearly sensed that the activity of water elements around him had surged dramatically, to the point where faint blue specks shimmered in the air. He understood—this was the summoning power of an ultimate element.
Standing atop the watery domain, Lan Fozi moved even faster. The watery ribbons in her hands danced with ethereal grace, even actively coiling around Mo Hentian's Sky-Hate Hammer.
Mo Hentian's eyes darkened as he exerted force, causing the hammer to tremble and shatter the encroaching water tendrils into droplets that splashed into the watery expanse below. Then, his first and fourth Soul Rings simultaneously lit up. The Sky-Hate Hammer grew enormous as he lunged toward Lan Fozi.
Lan Fozi's second Soul Skill, Oath of Water, was one that continuously strengthened herself while weakening her opponent. Having fought her so many times, Mo Hentian naturally knew this—hence his urgency to end the battle quickly.
In the blink of an eye, Mo Hentian closed the distance, bringing Lan Fozi within his effective attack range. His second Soul Ring flared, and the colossal Sky-Hate Hammer descended with a thunderous gust of wind.
Unhurried, Lan Fozi raised her hands. The watery ribbons coiled around her arms swiftly gathered before her, forming a swirling vortex to meet the falling hammer. At the same time, her third Soul Ring ignited.
Third Soul Skill—Whirlpool Reversal!
As expected—this move again! Mo Hentian's eyes sharpened, his body tensing as he forcibly altered his strike. Clearly, he had anticipated Lan Fozi's counter. With a twist of his body, his hammer swung mid-air, and his fifth Soul Ring blazed to life. The Sky-Hate Hammer erupted with a fierce dark glow, saturating the air with an oppressive weight.
As Mo Hentian unleashed this strike, the very air seemed to compress. Gravity and pressure within the arena multiplied, causing Lan Fozi's watery domain to boil violently, bubbles surging upward.
Fifth Soul Skill—Mountain Presses the Sky!
Lan Fozi's expression froze. The vortex before her shattered instantly as her fourth Soul Ring ignited. Towering waves, several meters high, surged behind her, one after another, each higher than the last. For a fleeting moment, a colossal whale seemed to soar through the sky.
Fourth Soul Skill—Tidal Surge!
Jing Shaoyu gave Gu Yue a strange look, thinking to himself, Is this how you guys usually spar?
Gu Yue remained expressionless, as if this were nothing out of the ordinary.