Before long, Du Weilun returned.
And he wasn't alone.
Yan Shaozhe!
When Zhu Ziyang and the others saw Yan Shaozhe walking into the office alongside Du Weilun, they instinctively stood up and greeted him respectfully.
"Greetings, Dean Yan!"
"Hello, all of you," Yan Shaozhe responded with a kind smile. "Children, congratulations on winning the freshman assessment! You've all done excellently. Especially you, Zhu Ziyang — you're the most talented student I've ever encountered! You three are the future of Shrek Academy!"
The trio broke into delighted smiles upon hearing his words. Whether or not Zhu Ziyang's smile was fully genuine, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya were undoubtedly ecstatic.
"Thank you for your praise! We will continue to work hard!" they replied respectfully in unison.
"Alright, Weilun, let's show them their reward," Yan Shaozhe said, eyes brimming with satisfaction.
"Yes!" Du Weilun answered. The soul tool ring on his finger flashed, and three small jade bottles appeared in his hand. He promptly handed them to Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe accepted the three jade bottles and then pulled out a dark pouch from his sleeve. Zhu Ziyang's eyes flickered at the sight of it.
A soul bone pouch!
Yan Shaozhe didn't notice the change in Zhu Ziyang's expression. He calmly placed the three bottles along with the dark pouch on the table in front of the trio.
"This is your reward. These are three Soul Ascension Pills, a type of medicinal pill that cleanses the meridians and boosts spirit power. For the three of you, with two or three rings, this pill should raise your spirit power by at least one or two levels."
The moment he spoke, Zhu Ziyang and the others lit up with joy. Their eyes fixated on the three jade bottles with unmistakable longing. Who wouldn't love something that could boost spirit power? Especially a pill that could directly raise a level — such treasures were exceedingly rare!
Though Zhu Ziyang could refine pills himself, he couldn't yet produce something as high-grade as the Soul Ascension Pill. His current limitations were both technical and material.
"Hehe, don't get excited just yet. There's still one more reward," Yan Shaozhe chuckled as he looked at their reactions. "This item is also for you. Why not open it and take a look?"
Zhu Ziyang accepted the dark pouch, already guessing what was inside — no doubt, a soul bone. The only question was which part of the body it belonged to. Shrek Academy wouldn't hand out just any soul bone, so this one must be extraordinary. Holding back his anticipation, Zhu Ziyang opened the pouch.
A wisp of dark light emerged and floated quietly in midair under everyone's gaze.
It was a small, intricately shaped bone radiating a dim black glow, with streaks of silver shimmering around its edges. Mysterious and elegant, it had an almost dreamlike beauty.
"It really is a soul bone!" Tang Ya exclaimed, unable to contain her excitement. Her eyes sparkled with shock and joy.
Jiang Nannan's reaction wasn't much different. She didn't cry out like Tang Ya, but the look in her eyes was equally intense — if not more. There was an unmistakable desire, as if her entire body yearned for the soul bone.
"Yes, it's a soul bone," Yan Shaozhe said with a calm tone, observing their reactions. Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya's responses were expected, but it was Zhu Ziyang's calm and composed reaction that made him even more satisfied with the boy's character.
"Your talents and performance have pleased the academy — or more accurately, they've pleased me. That's why I decided to grant you this soul bone. I'll explain its origin and properties, and then the three of you can decide how to distribute it among yourselves. However, as precious as it is, I hope it doesn't affect your friendship. As core disciples of Shrek Academy, you'll have many more opportunities to obtain soul bones in the future."
"This soul bone was selected specifically for you. It isn't restricted to any one type — it's a universal bone. Whether you are assault-type, agility-type, or control-type, it's compatible. It comes from a five-thousand-year-old Moonshadow Rabbit and is a right leg bone. Once fused, it enhances speed and grants an attribute amplification skill."
"It's yours now. The pouch is also yours, to mask the soul bone's aura. After all, wealth invites trouble. Stay cautious, and keep the academy's reward confidential, understood?"
"Moonshadow Rabbit!" Upon hearing the soul beast's name, both Zhu Ziyang and Tang Ya looked at Jiang Nannan, who now wore a deeply moved expression.
"What is it?" Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun both noticed their reactions and asked curiously.
"Nannan's first spirit ring is from a Moonshadow Rabbit," Tang Ya replied with a strange look. The odds of receiving a soul bone from the same source as one's spirit ring were nearly as slim as the odds of obtaining a soul bone in the first place.
"Is that so?" Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun exchanged surprised glances. There was a trace of helplessness in their eyes.
The truth was, this soul bone had been carefully chosen for Zhu Ziyang. But such a rare coincidence made it clear — compared to Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan was a far better fit for the soul bone.
Things had just gotten complicated.
To ordinary soul masters, all soul bones were invaluable.
But not all soul bones were created equal. The true distinction lay not in age, position, or even the soul skill — but in compatibility with the user. Compatibility came from various factors and was used to judge how suitable a soul bone was for a soul master.
Generally, compatibility fell into three levels. The highest level was soul bones that came from the exact soul beast as one's spirit ring. The next level included soul bones from the same species as one's spirit ring, soul bones from the same species as one's martial soul, and those from soul beasts sharing the same bloodline as the soul master — these were known respectively as spirit ring-matched bones, martial soul-matched bones, and bloodline-matched bones. The lowest tier included all other soul bones.
"Jiang Nannan, may I ask what your first soul skill is?" Yan Shaozhe asked with a smile, a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"Y-Yes. My first soul skill is called Moonshadow Body. It doubles my speed when activated," Jiang Nannan replied, startled at first but answering earnestly.
"Oh..." Yan Shaozhe nodded knowingly, then glanced between the three of them before saying, "Then I'll be the bad guy today. This soul bone will go to Jiang Nannan. After all, encountering a soul bone from the same source as your spirit ring is a rare thing. What do the two of you think?"
"Agreed!" Zhu Ziyang and Tang Ya replied in unison. Zhu Ziyang had no objections at all. In fact, this had been his plan from the beginning. As for Tang Ya, her decisiveness pleasantly surprised him.
"Brother... Xiao Ya... I..." Jiang Nannan wanted to refuse, but Zhu Ziyang cut her off.
"Nannan, no need to decline. Even if Dean Yan hadn't spoken, I was always going to give this soul bone to you," Zhu Ziyang said with a gentle smile. "I believe Xiao Ya would agree as well."
Zhu Ziyang looked toward Tang Ya, who rolled her eyes at him but turned to Jiang Nannan and said, "Of course. Nannan, this soul bone clearly suits you best. The effect will be far better for you than it would be for me or Ziyang. So just accept it."
"Mm! Thank you both!" Jiang Nannan's face flushed with gratitude and excitement.
The display from Zhu Ziyang and Tang Ya left Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun visibly pleased. Yan Shaozhe's heart stirred with an idea.
"I'm very glad that your friendship held strong despite the temptation of a soul bone," he said warmly. "That said, it seems I've made a bit of a mistake. So, as compensation... I'm giving you this soul bone as well."
As he spoke, he pulled out another soul bone pouch!
(End of Chapter)
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