"How come he's still not awake?"
Outside, the group grew increasingly restless. Chen Junting had finished absorbing his soul ring long ago—yet showed no sign of stirring.
If not for Dean Du Weilun repeatedly assuring them that Chen Junting's aura was stable and healthy—and physically holding Wu Feng back—she would've charged over multiple times already.
Even Huo Yuhao kept calling out to Tianmeng Ice Silkworm in his spiritual sea, demanding updates on Chen Junting's condition—until Tianmeng, utterly exasperated, severed their connection entirely.
"This shouldn't be happening," Du Weilun murmured, exchanging a worried glance with Zhao Gang. His examination confirmed Chen Junting was in perfect health—almost unnaturally so, like a human-shaped soul beast.
So why wouldn't he wake?
Just then—
"Hah—!"
Chen Junting exhaled sharply, his eyes snapping open. Twin blades of piercing light shot from his gaze—his entire being radiating vitality and vigor.
"Sword-face! You're finally awake!" Wu Feng and Huo Yuhao, who'd been watching him most closely, were the first to react—drawing everyone's attention.
Chen Junting gave an awkward chuckle and rose to his feet. "Sorry to keep you all waiting."
"You reckless kid," Du Weilun sighed in relief, though his tone was scolding. "You really don't make things easy."
With Chen Junting safe, Du Weilun ordered the exhausted group to rest and recover. They were standing in the very spot where nine evil soul masters had been ambushed by the Golden Demon Bird—bodies still scattered across the forest floor.
"Everyone, pay close attention," Du Weilun instructed firmly. "Search every corpse thoroughly. Don't miss a single item. But—do not inspect the contents of their storage soul engineering devices."
The team dispersed. Chen Junting approached one of the corpses, knelt, and carefully pried open the dead man's stiff fingers. Clutched in his hand was a sheet of paper—unusually crafted from thousand-year ice silkworm silk: smooth, resilient, and faintly shimmering with cold light.
But the blueprint was incomplete—torn cleanly along the edges, as if deliberately split.
'Why carry it in hand instead of storing it?' Chen Junting mused. 'They must have been using it to guide some activity here.'
His eyes narrowed. 'And if it was torn on purpose… someone wanted to hide something.'
Just then, Du Weilun approached, holding a similar fragment. "These items may be dangerous. Hand over all blueprints immediately."
"Here you go," Chen Junting said, passing his piece over.
Wu Feng, ever curious, elbowed him. "Sword-face—your fourth soul ring is 10,000 years, right? Let me see!"
Chen Junting rolled his eyes. "What's there to look at? You've seen 10,000-year soul rings before."
"But I've never seen one on you!" she shot back, undeterred.
Amused, he relented. Yellow, purple, purple, and black pentagrams detached from his sword, swirling into soul rings around him—the jet-black 10,000-year ring drawing Wu Feng's rapt attention.
"Still dreaming of your own 10,000-year fourth soul ring?" he teased softly. "If you'd practiced that cultivation method I gave you properly, it wouldn't be a dream."
Wu Feng flushed but said nothing.
Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao examined the blueprint. "This material… ice silkworm silk. But the pattern…" He frowned, shaking his head. "Sorry—I don't recognize it."
But when Chen Junting mentioned "core soul engineering arrays," Huo Yuhao's eyes suddenly widened in recognition. "Wait… I think I've seen this before."
Chen Junting's heart leapt. He quickly memorized the pattern—intending to ask Electrolux about it later.
Du Weilun carefully aligned the two fragments. Fortunately, they fit perfectly—and triggered no traps. Soon, a circular rune emerged from the jumble of lines.
This resembles a core soul engineering array… but it's not quite right.
"Sit down," Du Weilun ordered. "Let me see if these pieces connect."
The group complied. Wu Feng, however, wasn't done. She abruptly stood, marched to another corpse, and—after a brief, disgusted rummage—pulled out a nearly identical blueprint.
"Nine evil soul masters… all with storage soul engineering devices," Du Weilun muttered, sealing the blueprints into a special containment pouch. His expression darkened. This isn't random. They're organized.
And organized evil soul masters were far more dangerous than lone wolves.
He turned to Wu Feng. "Burn the bodies."
Without hesitation, she unleashed a torrent of crimson dragonfire—engulfing the forest in an inferno.
As the flames roared, Chen Junting's mind raced.
Could they be from the Holy Spirit Cult?
Whatever the truth, this discovery would surely shake Shrek Academy's highest echelons.
But for now—all he could do was wait… and remember.
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