Still kneeling, Tang Hao didn't look up. Instead, he silently held out a black box, sealed and without any aura.
"Give this to that kid," he said quietly. "Tell him it's from me."
Flender hesitated. "And the message?"
Tang Hao's voice was flat. "Tell him… its an apology. And not to beat my son without any reason."
Then, without another word, Tang Hao's figure blurred into the sky, flying off—his robes fluttering behind him, blood trailing faintly in the moonlight. His right shoulder still leaked spirit energy where the arm had been severed.
Flender stood frozen, staring at the box in his hands. He finally opened it—only to stagger back.
Inside was a 100,000-year-old soul bone—gleaming blue-silver with radiant veins of power pulsing through it.
Cold sweat beaded down his back.
"W-Wait! Isn't this a 100,000-year-old spirit bone…!?" Flender muttered, eyes wide in disbelief. "He just… gave it away like it meant nothing."
He stared at the sealed box, sweat trickling down his face.
"It seems… those ten really are people that not even the Clear Sky Sect can afford to offend…"
He shut the box immediately with a click, holding it tightly in his hands.
"I better give this to him fast. I don't want to hold on to a damn hot potato like this," he muttered, turning toward Mo Luochen's dorm.
But then he stopped.
He remembered the image of Mo Luochen pulling both Renxue and Felicia into his room last night, his arms casually around their waists, the door closing behind them.
Flender blinked. Then blinked again.
"…Yeah, no. I should go back," he whispered to himself, turning around and retreating to his own quarters. "I'll just hand it over first thing in the morning."
Next Morning – Shrek Academy Training Grounds
The sun had barely risen, but all the students had already gathered on the field, lined up neatly as instructed. They stood straight, but the air was full of subtle curiosity and tension.
The events of the day before still lingered in their minds.
Not long after, Flender arrived, dressed neatly in his academy robes, his usual lazy expression replaced with seriousness. He looked over the assembled students, then gestured toward the line of adults beside him.
"This," he announced, "will be your official introduction to your instructors."
He stepped aside as several figures walked forward—the core teaching staff of Shrek Academy.
Zhao Wuji was among them—face still swollen and bruised, his body stiff with bandages beneath his robes. He avoided everyone's gaze, especially Tang San's.
One by one, the teachers stepped up and introduced themselves, each sharing their name, martial spirit, and role in the academy.
After a few moments, Flender returned to the front and cleared his throat.
"We are not a conventional academy. All of you passed the initial test, but make no mistake—Shrek only raises monsters. And only monsters will thrive here."
His eyes scanned over Mo Luochen, Qian Renxue, Felicia, and the others from Spirit Hall who stood at the front. He felt the weight of that black box still in his pocket.
First things first, Flender thought grimly. I need to return this spirit bone.
"Mo Luochen," he called out.
Mo Luochen, calm and composed as ever, stepped forward from the group.
Flender approached quietly and handed him the sealed black box, speaking in a low whisper, "Apology from Tang Hao. Just… don't beat his son again without a good reason."
The exchange caught the curiosity of a few nearby students, but Mo Luochen didn't look at anyone. He simply nodded, accepting the box with barely a glance.
After all, Spirit Hall was now the top powerhouse.
With their backing, he thought, we can walk wherever we please—and no one can stop us.
He gave the box a cursory look, then said plainly, "As long as he doesn't provoke me again."
Flender nodded quickly and stepped back. "Now then—where's Oscar?" he asked, scanning the students.
A commotion stirred to the side, and a panting kid ran up. "Sorry, I'm late!" Oscar cried, slightly out of breath.
Flender opened his mouth to scold him—but paused, noticing something strange. He squinted… and then his expression turned to surprise, and finally joy.
"You've reached level 30!?"
Oscar grinned and nodded. "Yes, Teacher Flender! It happened last night. I broke through just before dawn."
Tang San, watching from the side, blinked in surprise. "So he really did break through…"
"Haha! Good, very good!" Flender laughed heartily and turned to address everyone. "Oscar has officially reached Rank 30. That means it's time for your third spirit rings."
He gestured toward Zhao Wuji, whose bandages had at least been changed overnight. The man gave a silent nod and stepped forward with a reluctant sigh.
"You'll all be heading out soon," Flender continued, "and Zhao Wuji will take you to obtain your third spirit rings."
"Prepare yourselves. This will be no easy task."
"Teacher, I've also reached level 30," Tang San said suddenly.
Flender, who had been in the middle of stretching his back, paused in surprise. "Oh? That makes two, then."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before speaking again. "Alright. Since you've both broken through, the rest of you can follow them, think of it as training. The two of you—Oscar and Tang San—will go with Zhao Wuji and the others will help to hunt for your third spirit rings."
The other students simply nodded, understanding the arrangement.
A Few Days Later – Star Dou Great Forest Outskirts
After several days of travel, the group finally arrived at the outskirts of the legendary Star Dou Forest.
The air was thicker here—damp with the scent of moss and ancient trees. The sky above was barely visible through the thick canopy, and distant beast cries echoed faintly through the dense woods. Even seasoned Spirit Masters felt a subtle tension in this place; the forest was home to both opportunity and danger.
Zhao Wuji led the group to a small, fortified inn built just outside the forest's edge. It was clearly a place familiar to Spirit Masters—a resting spot before heading into the beast-infested wilds.
"We'll rest here for the night," he said as he handed over a few coins to the innkeeper. "We enter the forest at dawn. No exceptions."
*******
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