"You should focus on consolidating your cultivation for the next few days. After that, I will personally escort you to obtain your next Soul Ring, making sure you get the one most suitable for you," Xuan Lao said with a smile.
For Zhang Lexuan, being personally led by the second most influential figure in Shrek Academy to acquire a Soul Ring was a privilege very few disciples could ever dream of.
"Thank you, Xuan Lao," Zhang Lexuan replied softly with a smile.
"Xuan Lao, there are a few other Inner Courtyard disciples also ready to obtain Soul Rings. How about taking them along together?" suggested another elder in charge of student affairs, seizing the chance to ask with a grin.
"No problem," Xuan Lao agreed readily, clearly in good spirits.
From a distance, Shi Yu—watching quietly like a transparent shadow—frowned slightly.
"Zhang Lexuan's eighth Soul Ring, Xuan Lao leading the team… this feels like the prelude to something bad," Shi Yu muttered inwardly, recalling fragments of the original story.
He remembered that Zhang Lexuan and several Inner Courtyard disciples once encountered a Ten-Thousand-Year Phoenix deep within the Star Dou Great Forest. At that time, Xuan Lao failed to handle the situation properly, which caused the students to suffer heavy losses. In the end, Zhang Lexuan killed the Phoenix and absorbed its Soul Ring, but she was gravely injured and needed a full year to recover.
That was likely what was about to unfold.
Shi Yu thought about warning Xuan Lao not to make mistakes, but the idea faded almost instantly. A reminder like that wouldn't be welcomed. If it were him, he wouldn't like someone doubting his ability either. Besides, Xuan Lao probably wouldn't listen—and Shi Yu himself was still insignificant.
Worse, saying such things might only draw unwanted attention. He didn't want anyone to suspect he could see the future.
"Zhang Lexuan doesn't die anyway. Forget it. No need to interfere," Shi Yu concluded.
After the teachers finished their business and left, Shi Yu also planned to head back.
"If anyone gives you trouble in the Inner Courtyard, you can come to me. For Mu Lao's sake, I'll help you," Zhang Lexuan suddenly called out before leaving.
"Thank you, Senior Sister," Shi Yu replied earnestly. He had always respected Zhang Lexuan.
Zhang Lexuan gave a slight nod before leaping onto the rooftop to continue cultivating. Her schedule was opposite to most people's—sleeping by day and training by night. Since her Martial Soul was the moon, nighttime was the most effective period for her cultivation. She never wasted a single moment.
"Senior Sister," Shi Yu called again.
"What is it?" Zhang Lexuan, just about to begin meditation, glanced back.
Shi Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "When obtaining your Soul Ring, please be cautious. The Soul Ring you require will definitely be of high age. Your strength alone may not be enough to deal with it. Be sure to remind the teacher escorting you to stay vigilant."
Whether or not it helped, he wanted to ease his own conscience. She had shown him kindness, and this was his way of returning it.
"Mm." Zhang Lexuan gave a brief acknowledgment, then ignored him as she entered her cultivation state.
Shi Yu said nothing further and returned to his own room.
His quarters were fairly spacious, about seventy square meters, with one bedroom, a living room, and a bathroom. After resting a while, he also entered cultivation—something he had to maintain daily without slacking.
Early the next morning, Shi Yu woke up ahead of schedule. With a half-month holiday in place, he found it strange to suddenly have no classes to attend. Shrek Academy's year was divided into two semesters, upper and lower, with a short half-month break in between. The lower semester was slightly longer, so its break stretched to about a month.
After washing up, he went to the Inner Courtyard cafeteria to eat and familiarize himself with the environment. By coincidence, he met Zhang Lexuan, though she had already finished her meal and was heading back.
"Good morning, Senior Sister," Shi Yu greeted with a smile.
"Mm," Zhang Lexuan nodded with a faint smile and pointed out the cafeteria entrance for him.
"Senior Sister, did you cultivate all night?" Shi Yu asked, noticing the dark circles beneath her eyes.
"I'm just about to sleep," Zhang Lexuan admitted—indeed, she had spent the entire night cultivating. No matter how accustomed she was to it, it still left visible traces of fatigue.
"Senior Sister, you're too diligent. It makes me feel ashamed," Shi Yu said with admiration.
Cultivators couldn't truly forgo sleep, after all. Whenever he cultivated late into the night, he always grew too drowsy to continue.
"I simply train at different hours than you," Zhang Lexuan replied calmly, not thinking much of her own dedication.
The two only exchanged a few casual words before parting—she to sleep, and he to eat.
The Inner Courtyard cafeteria was smaller than the Outer Courtyard's, but the food quality was far superior. Each dish contained a trace of medicinal herbs, aiding cultivation and energy recovery. Shrek Academy always used such subtle methods to strengthen its students, while offsetting any minor side effects with rigorous training.
After breakfast, Shi Yu returned to his room, shut the doors and windows, and slipped beneath his quilt. From there, he secretly pulled out a book on Soul Guidance Devices—a relic he had brought back from ten thousand years in the future.
It was an introductory text, but far more advanced than the beginner manuals available in this era. The explanations were broader, deeper, yet written with surprising clarity, making it easy and enjoyable to learn.
In the era of the Dragon King Legend, Soul Guidance technology had become part of everyday life, widely popularized and simplified so that anyone could study it.
Shi Yu read intently, as if devouring a novel, gradually losing track of time. By the time he finally noticed, the entire morning had passed, spent shifting positions under the quilt while continuing to read.
No matter how he shifted, he kept himself wrapped up. Paranoia lingered that someone might be spying on him, and hiding beneath the blanket was the only way to feel safe. He could only rely on the hope that the powerful Inner Courtyard teachers were virtuous enough not to invade his privacy.
By noon, Shi Yu left for the Outer Courtyard. After lunch, he sparred with Jiang Nannan.
Compared to Xu Sanshi, facing her gave him much greater pressure. Xu Sanshi, as a defense-type Soul Grandmaster, was sturdy but not as offensively sharp. Jiang Nannan, on the other hand, was an agility-attack type Soul Grandmaster—swift and deadly. Against her, Shi Yu didn't even dare get too close.
If she struck first, he might not even have the chance to use Naruto's Instant Transmission to escape.
Of course, if he focused purely on evasion, she wouldn't easily catch him either.