"Alright, the sparring is over. The losing side will accept their punishment!" Xuan Zi said with a smile.
"I am a pig!" Ma Xiaotao and the others were genuinely convinced this time, and without hesitation, they all shouted it out.
"After two rounds of sparring, you should have a preliminary understanding," Xuan Zi said with a smile. "Alright, you can all go back. Pack your bags, and tomorrow morning, gather at the Shrek Academy gate to travel to Star Luo City for the competition."
"Star Luo City?" Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and he called out in confusion.
Xuan Zi looked at him, then said, "Is there a problem? The Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition rotates among the capitals of various Empires. This time it's the Star Luo Empire's turn, so we naturally need to go to Star Luo City to compete!"
"No, no problem!" Huo Yuhao immediately shook his head and said, "I was just a bit surprised."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot that Huo Yuhao, you are also from the Star Luo Empire." Xuan Zi smiled, a hint of realization flashing across his face, then said, "Alright, dismissed."
Xuan Zi's figure flickered, disappearing from everyone's sight. Zhu Ziyang and the others, after greeting the seven members of the preliminary team, also left the assessment area and flew towards Sea God Island. When they reached the edge of Sea God Lake, Dai Yueheng separated from them, flying in another direction.
Looking at Dai Yueheng's departing back, Zhu Ziyang's expression stirred. He could guess what Dai Yueheng was going to do—nothing more than to warn his foolish younger brother to stop doing silly things.
However, this had little to do with Zhu Ziyang. He smiled, and after landing on Sea God Island, he went straight to Sea God Pavilion.
—
Early morning, at the Shrek Academy gate.
The Shrek main team and the Shrek preliminary team met at the gate. Because they were traveling, no one wore their school uniforms, as the Shrek Academy uniforms were too conspicuous.
Not long after everyone had arrived, Xuan Zi also came. What surprised everyone was that accompanying Xuan Zi was an Old Woman with silver hair and a middle-aged man with a strong scholarly aura. Zhu Ziyang and the other main team members recognized the Old Woman, while Huo Yuhao and the preliminary team members recognized the middle-aged man.
"Elder Lin! Elder Xuan!" Zhu Ziyang and the others respectfully bowed to the Old Woman. Although the preliminary team members did not know Elder Lin, they followed the main team members in bowing. After all, anyone who could make Xuan Zi lag half a step behind them surely held an extraordinary position.
"Hehehe! Hello, children!" Elder Lin said with a kind and benevolent smile on her face, "This Old Woman is just going to Star Luo City with you all along the way this time; you don't need to mind me. For competition arrangements, you still need to listen to Elder Xuan."
Everyone showed expressions of understanding upon hearing this, but only Zhu Ziyang understood the true purpose of Elder Lin's trip.
Elder Lin, whose full name is Lin Huiqun, is a Level 98 Super Douluo, titled Tianhe, with the Tianhe Umbrella Spirit, and is the continent's number one control system Spirit Master. She is Mu En's junior sister and the most senior elder in the Sea God Pavilion. The reason she was traveling with everyone was simple: to protect Zhu Ziyang and the other members, and at the same time, to supervise Xuan Zi.
There was no other way; the impact of that incident was simply too severe. Mu En truly dared not entrust Zhu Ziyang to Xuan Zi's protection alone again, which is why he specifically invited Elder Lin.
"Yu Hao, isn't that the Jubao Pavilion Master?" Wang Dong whispered into Huo Yuhao's ear.
"Mm-hm!" Huo Yuhao also recognized Elder Lin, but his gaze fell on the middle-aged man, and he said, "Is Teacher Wang Yan also coming with us?"
"This is Teacher Wang Yan from the Outer Courtyard, and he will also be your leading teacher for this competition." Xuan Zi still had his slovenly appearance, but at least he wasn't acting dissolutely with a chicken leg in one hand and wine in the other. He pointed to the middle-aged man, Wang Yan, and said.
"Greetings, students. I am Wang Yan. Please guide me." Wang Yan said with a smile on his face.
"Hmm!" Ma Xiaotao observed Wang Yan, then responded indifferently, and said no more.
Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but laugh. Ma Xiaotao was probably dissatisfied, thinking Wang Yan's strength was too weak! He was also very surprised that the Academy would send an Outer Courtyard teacher as their leader. Were all the Inner Courtyard teachers that busy?
"Let's go!" Xuan Zi gave the command, then led the way.
The group followed Xuan Zi's pace in twos and threes, with the main team members in front and the preliminary team members behind, steadily moving towards Star Luo City. Elder Lin had disappeared from everyone's sight, her whereabouts unknown, but everyone knew she was nearby.
"Ziyang, you should know why Elder Lin is with us, right?" Ma Xiaotao walked on Zhu Ziyang's right, leaning close to his ear to ask. She completely ignored Jiang Nannan's fiery gaze, continuing to act as she pleased.
"Mm-hm!" Zhu Ziyang nodded, a helpless, bitter smile on his face.
"Brother, I heard that Elder Lin is Mu En's junior sister. Is that true?" Jiang Nannan hugged Zhu Ziyang's left arm, a hint of challenge flashing in her eyes. After glancing at Ma Xiaotao, she said sweetly to Zhu Ziyang.
"That's true." Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "Elder Lin is Teacher's teacher, which means she's the youngest daughter of the previous Sea God Pavilion Master. Not only is she Teacher's junior sister, but she's also Elder Xuan's grandaunt."
"So that's it. No wonder Elder Xuan always looks like a mouse seeing a cat when he sees Elder Lin." Jiang Nannan thought of something and then chuckled.
"Because Elder Xuan's teacher is Elder Lin's biological brother, and Elder Lin is nearly fifty years older than Elder Xuan. When Elder Xuan was studying in the Outer Courtyard, Elder Lin happened to be serving as the director of instruction there!" Zhu Ziyang shared old stories he had heard from Mu En, making both Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao laugh continuously.
Xuan Zi, walking at the very front, naturally heard Zhu Ziyang's words, but he could only smile helplessly, because what Zhu Ziyang said was true, and Elder Lin was right behind him, so he really didn't dare to get angry. The shadow Elder Lin left on him was quite deep!
Of course, the most important thing was that Elder Lin's Spirit was too restrictive for him. The powerful control ability of the Tianhe Umbrella Spirit made it very difficult for him, with his Gourmand Divine Cow Spirit, to deal with. Every time he was played with and made a fool of, and after many times, it formed a conditioned reflex; he would feel dread whenever he saw Elder Lin. If Elder Lin had not been uninterested in the position of Pavilion Master, then the first in line successor to the Sea God Pavilion Master would not have been him, but Elder Lin.
"Cough, cough!" Xuan Zi stopped walking, turned around, coughed, and said, "Everyone, come over."
Zhu Ziyang immediately stopped talking and walked towards Xuan Zi with Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao. Everyone else also gathered around, looking at Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi's expression was serious, and his voice was heavy as he said, "We are still not far from the Academy, so I need to say some things upfront. The seven little ones from the preliminary team, you need to listen carefully, as this will concern your future development in the Academy."
Zhu Ziyang and the seven main team members, along with Teacher Wang Yan, could vaguely guess what Xuan Zi was going to say next, but Huo Yuhao, Tang Ya, and the other preliminary team members were a bit confused. However, seeing Xuan Zi's serious expression, they all looked on attentively.
Xuan Zi said, "Our Shrek Academy has a history of over ten thousand years. Generally speaking, a Spirit Master at the Spirit Saint level can live for two hundred years, and a Titled Douluo can even live for five hundred years. The Academy almost every year has Outer Courtyard students who enter the Inner Courtyard. However, currently, there are fewer than a hundred Inner Courtyard Disciple remaining in the Academy. Do you know why?"
Xu Sanshi replied, "Because the senior students have all graduated and left the Academy, right?"
Xuan Zi shook his head upon hearing this and said, "Less than 20% of Inner Courtyard Disciple choose to leave the Academy after graduation each year. What I am referring to are the Inner Courtyard students who choose to stay. Some of these students have graduated but still choose to remain in the Academy, while others will never be able to graduate!"
As Xuan Zi spoke, his tone became mournful yet proud. He said, "They are all good children. And you, as members of the preliminary team, can be said to have one foot already in the Inner Courtyard. The other half requires your own choice.
I can tell you clearly that every year many Outer Courtyard Disciple qualify to enter the Inner Courtyard, but only a very small number actually enter. Because once you enter the Inner Courtyard, you will shoulder a heavy responsibility, and this responsibility will inevitably lead to some people sacrificing their lives.
All disciples who enter the Shrek Inner Courtyard automatically join another major department of Shrek Academy—the Shrek Supervision Group!"
"Shrek Supervision Group?!" All the preliminary team members showed expressions of surprise and confusion.
Xuan Zi looked at their expressions and said, "That's right, the Shrek Supervision Group, an organization dedicated to eradicating Evil Soul Master, punishing fallen Spirit Master, eliminating evildoers, and upholding peace and justice on the continent. All Inner Courtyard Disciple are members of the Supervision Group, known as supervisors, and Elder Lin and I are the two vice-group leaders of the Shrek Supervision Group, respectively. Do you understand?"
"Mm-hm!" Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, and Tang Ya, as fifth-year students, naturally understood immediately what kind of existence the Shrek Supervision Group was. However, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, as second-year students, were somewhat half-understood but still chose to follow along and answer.
"Very good. Now, I need to know your decision." Xuan Zi said, "Are you willing to do your utmost to uphold peace and justice on the continent, even if there will be sacrifices in the process? Are you able to thoroughly eliminate evil and not let a single evil person go? Are you willing to become a member of the Shrek Supervision Group and dedicate everything to the great cause of Shrek Academy?"
"We are willing!" The preliminary team members' expressions were serious, and they answered in unison, their attitude very resolute.
Zhu Ziyang watched this scene, his heart completely calm.