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The sudden influx of a large group into the security office startled the guard.
Although they were all young men, it was precisely young men who could be unpredictable.
The guard politely asked Xu Yuan, who appeared to be the leader.
"Hello, we're looking for Director Li Zhilong from the Teaching Affairs Office."
"What do you need with Director Li?" the guard asked, puzzled.
"Just tell Director Li that his junior schoolmates need his help."
"Junior schoolmates?"
The guard grew even more confused, sizing up Xu Yuan and his group.
With some hesitation, he picked up the phonebook, dialed the number, and waited.
"Hello?" A middle-aged man's voice came through, laced with curiosity.
"Director Li, this is the security office. There are some people here to see you. They say they're your juniors."
"Juniors?" The middle-aged man paused, then seemed to understand where these juniors might have come from. He instructed the guard, "Take good care of them. I'll be right there."
The guard hung up and, looking at Xu Yuan and his group, poured them some water and invited them to sit down.
Wu Siduo looked at Xu Yuan in surprise.
"Class Monitor, is Director Li an alumnus of our academy?"
"That's correct. I investigated beforehand, and one reason I chose this place was because of him. As an alumnus, he should understand our assessment, so arranging this exchange match should be feasible."
Everyone gave their class monitor a thumbs-up.
As expected of their class monitor—always thinking ahead.
They didn't wait long before a middle-aged man arrived. Upon seeing Xu Yuan and his group, he quickly scanned the total number of people.
So many people!
Though it differed from what he knew about the assessment requirements, judging by the soul power fluctuations emanating from Xu Yuan's group, he could roughly gauge their identities.
Li Zhilong studied Xu Yuan closely.
"Follow me inside."
He led Xu Yuan and his companions, engaging in conversation as they walked.
"Aren't the first-year final assessments supposed to be completed individually?"
"Recently, things have been unstable. Initially, individual completion was required, but after reports of evil soul masters appearing, each teacher gathered their students to complete the assessment together."
Li Zhilong nodded in understanding.
"Alright, I know your purpose—challenges five ranks above, right? I can arrange that for you, but I won't guarantee exact opponents five ranks higher. I'll arrange for you to face the strongest students under twenty in our academy. Whether you win or lose depends on your abilities. Their soul power levels will definitely meet your requirements."
"Senior, we have three Soul Ancestors among us. Are you sure your academy has students who meet those conditions?" Xu Yuan interrupted Li Zhilong.
"Three Soul Ancestors!" Li Zhilong was shocked. He carefully sensed the soul power fluctuations of the thirteen people, his gaze lingering on Xu Yuan, Wu Siduo, and Xu Yucheng.
"Could you disclose your specific soul power levels?"
"Xu Yucheng, soul power level forty-four. Wu Siduo, soul power level forty-four. And I, Xu Yuan, soul power level forty-nine." Xu Yuan introduced them one by one.
By the time Li Zhilong heard the first two soul power levels, his expression already revealed astonishment. When he heard Xu Yuan's level, his face changed dramatically.
It wasn't just Li Zhilong.
Every time Xu Yuan's soul power level was mentioned, others were also left in awe, deeply shaken.
Xu Yuan's soul power level had increased far too quickly.
At the start of the semester, he was only at level forty-five. Now, after just half a year, he had risen four levels.
Of course, three of those levels seemed to have skyrocketed overnight.
This left everyone baffled.
No one knew what had happened to Xu Yuan during that time.
But those who had interacted with him could feel that something about him had indeed changed after those few days.
"What about the others?" After a long silence, Li Zhilong finally mustered the courage to ask about the soul power levels of the rest.
Xu Yuan reported them one by one.
"Their opponents won't be a problem, but for the three of you, I'll help find suitable opponents."
Li Zhilong turned his attention to Wu Siduo and Xu Yucheng.
"You two should be challenging Soul Ancestors at level forty-nine. Our academy happens to have one—a student who's twenty-five years old and about to graduate. His soul power has been stuck at forty-nine for a year. He can serve as your opponent."
"He's the only one, so you'll need to coordinate your schedules and give him ample recovery time to avoid affecting your assessment progress."
"As for you, Xu Yuan, I can only find you a teacher. However, our academy's teachers aren't obligated to participate in exchanges."
Li Zhilong looked at Xu Yuan.
"I understand, Senior. There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you help me find a teacher with an appropriate level, I'll compensate them accordingly."
Li Zhilong nodded, then gave Xu Yuan a curious glance.
Class monitor?
Why is he so easy to work with?
Strange.
Although it felt unbelievable for someone reasonable to emerge from Shrek Academy—and not just anyone, but the class monitor of such an outstanding cohort—Li Zhilong didn't voice his thoughts.
As they spoke, they entered the teaching building.
There was no elevator in the building, only a spiraling staircase. Li Zhilong led Xu Yuan's group up the stairs until they reached the top floor, entering a massive domed structure.
Upon entering the hall, they discovered that the ceiling was open-air, facing the vast sky directly.
"This is the academy's observatory and a crucial practical training ground. It has a diameter of three hundred meters."
"This observatory is grand," Xu Yuan remarked, already gazing upward through the open dome at the stars. "The angle for stargazing is perfect—is there some special design behind it?"
Though it was daytime, Xu Yuan seemed to see the stars in the sky as if admiring a beautiful scene.
Li Zhilong smiled.
"Indeed, this observatory isn't just a training ground—it's also an important cultivation site for our academy. Only exceptionally talented disciples are allowed to cultivate here during specific times."
"Cultivate here?" Wu Siduo asked in surprise.
She sensed her surroundings but didn't feel anything particularly special.
Why would such a restriction exist—only allowing exceptional disciples to cultivate here during specific times?
The others looked at Senior Li Zhilong, waiting for his explanation.
At the same time, they began to speculate that this might be related to the "opportunities" their class monitor had mentioned earlier.
Seeing the expectant expressions of his juniors, Li Zhilong couldn't help but smile wryly.
"The observatory does have some unique qualities. Inside, a massive soul-guided formation array is engraved. Combined with the geographical location and other factors, numerous astronomers and soul-guided experts collaborated to build it."
"Whether it's day or night, once activated, it brings us closer to outer space, allowing us to observe the stars more closely."
Li Zhilong explained that this wasn't just a visual magnification—it amplified one's perception of the stars as well. It was a full-spectrum enhancement, effectively shortening the distance between us and outer space.
Aside from their physical location remaining unchanged, the effect was identical.
Of course, this wasn't the observatory's greatest advantage.
Wu Siduo and the others looked at Li Zhilong expectantly, waiting for him to continue his explanation.
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