Fortunately, their luck was quite good, and they managed to walk out of the Star Dou Great Forest relatively smoothly.
Two hours later, they returned to Shrek Academy.
Shi Yu and the others didn't immediately part ways, but instead followed Zhang Lexuan to undergo examination.
Zhang Lexuan's final assessment task was to help them obtain Soul Rings and bring them back unharmed.
The quality of the Soul Rings they obtained and whether they had any injuries were all related to Zhang Lexuan's assessment score.
The quality of the Soul Rings they obtained was relatively high, and none of them suffered any significant injuries, so Zhang Lexuan ultimately received a relatively high score.
"You and Xu Sanshi come with Shi Yu to the Academic Affairs Office," Zhang Lexuan called out, stopping Shi Yu and Xu Sanshi who were about to leave after cooperating.
Xu Sanshi maliciously destroying someone else's Soul Ring acquisition was no small matter and couldn't be simply overlooked.
"Senior Apprentice Sister, there's no need for this, right?" Bei Bei attempted to plead for Xu Sanshi, as this could lead to a heavy punishment for Xu Sanshi, possibly even affecting Senior's future entry into the Inner Courtyard.
Zhang Lexuan didn't answer immediately but looked at Xu Sanshi.
"Hmph, Bei Bei, you don't need to plead for Shi Yu. If I have to go, I'll go. I, Xu Sanshi, dare to do it, and I dare to bear the consequences," Xu Sanshi said arrogantly.
"Since you dare to do it and dare to bear the consequences, then let's go," Zhang Lexuan said, seeing Xu Sanshi's attitude and completely abandoning any thought of saving Bei Bei face.
Shi Yu naturally cooperated and went with them to the Academic Affairs Office.
"Greetings, Dean Yan," Zhang Lexuan said somewhat unexpectedly to an Old man as she entered the Academic Affairs Office.
"Yan Shaozhe?" Shi Yu looked at the Old man sitting in the Academic Affairs Director's seat and talking to the standing Academic Affairs Director.
With Zhang Lexuan addressing a Dean with the surname Yan, Senior could think of was Yan Shaozhe, the Dean of the Outer Courtyard's Martial Soul Department.
Yan Shaozhe looked quite old, but due to Senior's strength, Senior's complexion was ruddy, Senior's spirits were high, and Senior showed no signs of frailty.
Many powerful elderly Soul Masters were in a similar state; their strength might not allow them to remain eternally young, but it enabled them to possess vitality comparable to that of young people.
"Le Xuan, what brings you here?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a smile, also a little surprised to see Zhang Lexuan.
This was the Outer Courtyard's Academic Affairs Office, and Zhang Lexuan was the Inner Courtyard's Senior Apprentice Sister; normally, Senior shouldn't be here.
Yan Shaozhe stood up as Senior spoke, showing a very good attitude towards Zhang Lexuan, without any pretense.
"Shi Yu brought Xu Sanshi here to receive punishment," Zhang Lexuan hesitated for a moment before stating Senior's purpose.
Mentioning this in front of Dean Yan might result in a heavier punishment for Xu Sanshi, but that was Senior's own doing.
"What did Senior do that required you to personally bring Senior here for punishment?" Yan Shaozhe asked in surprise, looking at Xu Sanshi.
The latter lowered Senior's head, biting Senior's lip, feeling awkward and embarrassed.
Zhang Lexuan explained what had happened while acquiring Soul Rings in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"Shi Yu has already given Senior a minor punishment, but Shi Yu feels it's not enough, so Shi Yu thought of letting the Academic Affairs Office administer further punishment," Zhang Lexuan said.
Yan Shaozhe first looked at Shi Yu. This person Senior knew, a Space Martial Soul user capable of infinite Naruto's Instant Transmission, which had long attracted Senior's attention.
Seeing a student with such talent treated this way made Senior quite angry.
"Xu Sanshi, don't you know that suitable Soul Beasts are hard to come by? What you did was extremely malicious in nature, enough for Shi Yu to expel you directly," Yan Shaozhe said in a deep voice.
Senior also valued Xu Sanshi highly, but Senior didn't expect this person to do such a foolish thing.
Hearing that Senior might be expelled, Xu Sanshi panicked a little and quickly said, "Dean Shi Yu knows Shi Yu was wrong, Shi Yu was also furious at the time and just wanted to provoke Shi Yu in this way."
"But Shi Yu only wanted to provoke Senior; Shi Yu didn't actually intend to kill that Soul Beast to prevent Senior from absorbing Senior's Soul Ring."
"Is that the kind of joke you can make casually?" Yan Shaozhe's tone was stern.
"Shi Yu was wrong, Shi Yu truly knows Shi Yu was wrong. Shi Yu hopes the Dean will not expel Shi Yu, considering it was a foolish thing Shi Yu did out of anger," Xu Sanshi could only soften Senior's stance at this point.
Senior didn't want to be expelled like this; only at Shrek Academy could Senior fully display Senior's talent.
"You really make Shi Yu not know what to say about you," Yan Shaozhe said, feeling a bit frustrated like wanting to see iron turn into steel.
"Director Du, how should this matter be handled according to the rules?" Yan Shaozhe asked the Academic Affairs Director beside Senior.
"This..." This really put Director Du in a difficult position.
This matter was neither big nor small. If it were against someone else, the punishment could be lighter, but Xu Sanshi targeted Shi Yu, a very talented student.
Therefore, the punishment had to satisfy Shi Yu.
A lighter punishment wouldn't satisfy Shi Yu, while a heavier one would make Xu Sanshi uncomfortable.
Xu Sanshi was also a student worth cultivating, almost guaranteed to enter the Inner Courtyard, with a promising future.
This put Senior in a dilemma. After thinking carefully, Senior said, "According to school regulations, Senior should receive a major demerit. When Senior undergoes the Inner Courtyard assessment, Senior's character must be thoroughly examined, and Senior should not be allowed to join the Inner Courtyard easily."
"At the same time, Senior needs to apologize to Shi Yu."
Xu Sanshi's expression changed slightly. This punishment was not light; Senior's difficulty of entering the Inner Courtyard had increased significantly.
Shi Yu was not very satisfied with this punishment. Shi Yu felt it was neither too light nor too heavy, and it would be more satisfying to let Shi Yu give Xu Sanshi a couple of punches to vent Shi Yu's anger.
Yan Shaozhe nodded, still relatively approving of this punishment, and looked at Shi Yu: "Shi Yu, are you satisfied with this punishment?"
"The Academy will urge Xu Sanshi to compensate you and will do its best to satisfy you."
Xu Sanshi didn't really want to do this, but Senior couldn't object, so Senior could only nod in agreement, furious.
"Shi Yu thinks how about this? Shi Yu suggests the Teachers seal Xu Sanshi's Soul Power to a level similar to Shi Yu's, and then let Shi Yu and Xu Sanshi have a fight until one of us admits Senior is a turtle bastard?" Shi Yu suggested.
Senior didn't care whether Xu Sanshi joined the Inner Courtyard or not. Even if Senior were expelled, it wouldn't be a very satisfying punishment for Senior.
It was more practical to beat Senior up, which was also what Senior wanted to do more.
Zhang Lexuan, Yan Shaozhe, and Director Du all looked at Shi Yu in astonishment, not expecting Senior to say that.
Xu Sanshi clenched Senior's fists, Senior's eyes practically spitting fire as Senior glared at Shi Yu: "Even if Shi Yu is at the same level as you, Shi Yu can still beat you into a pig's head."
"But you're just a mudfish afraid of death, only knowing how to dodge evasively. Shi Yu finds fighting you boring."
Shi Yu said calmly, "If we were at the same Soul Power level, Shi Yu could easily beat you into a pig's head. Why would Shi Yu need to keep dodging?"
"This Time, Shi Yu genuinely wants to beat you up to vent Shi Yu's anger. Shi Yu can't wait to keep hitting you. Why would Shi Yu keep dodging and waste Time?"
Senior's calm demeanor made Xu Sanshi even angrier. This was completely disregarding Senior and just speaking arrogantly.
"Malicious fighting between students is prohibited," Yan Shaozhe said with a frown. The relationship between these two was not suitable to continue deteriorating.
It was normal for classmates to have some conflicts, but if they turned into mortal enemies because of it, that was something the Academy was unwilling to see.
Especially since both of these individuals had outstanding talent, losing either one would be a loss for the Academy.