Shrek Academy.
Du Weilun clutched the slightly crumpled official letter in his hand, standing outside Yan Shaozhe's office door and letting out a deep sigh.
A bitter expression that said "as expected" appeared on his face.
Even before replying, he had already sensed what Jing Hongchen's reaction would be.
He just hadn't expected that Dean Hongchen, who was always known for being smooth and tactful, would be so decisive this time, directly cutting off all paths of retreat.
He pushed the door open and walked into the office, which remained as gloomy as ever.
Yan Shaozhe was leisurely pruning a pot of precious greenery. Hearing the movement, he asked without lifting his head, "Weilun, how is it? Is the Sun Moon side already discussing the route to escort Liu Yuan over?"
"Remember, the reception specifications can be slightly higher. After all, we want to give that child the illusion of 'coming home'."
Du Weilun remained silent for a moment before bracing himself to hand over the official letter, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Dean... the reply has arrived. However, the situation is the complete opposite of what you anticipated."
The scissors Yan Shaozhe was using to prune the branches paused slightly. He frowned and took the letter.
However, when his gaze fell upon the flamboyant calligraphy and the forceful rhetoric that seemed to pierce through the paper, his originally refined face instantly turned ashen.
"Full cancellation of the exchange? Indefinite suspension of academic interactions?" Yan Shaozhe looked at the lines of sarcastic text, especially the final sentence "disdain to associate with such people," his hands trembling slightly with rage.
Slam!
Yan Shaozhe slammed the scissors onto the desk, his breathing becoming rapid as he completely lost his composure. "Crazy! That old fox Jing Hongchen must be crazy! For the sake of one Liu Yuan, he actually wants to sever the nearly century-old exchange tradition between our two academies? Does he not know how much loss this will cause to the collision of spirit tools and the Spirit Master cultivation systems?"
"He actually said Liu Yuan is their Duke... He actually dares to openly challenge Shrek's status!" Yan Shaozhe gritted his teeth, the hostility in his eyes almost manifesting into substance.
He had originally thought that by holding the trump card of 'orthodox advanced study,' the other party would have no choice but to comply. He never expected them to flip the table and spit in his face while they were at it.
"He is indeed crazy..."
Just then, a gentle yet infinitely majestic voice abruptly echoed within the office.
Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun both shuddered and quickly turned their heads.
Space fluctuated slightly as an old man sitting in a wheelchair quietly appeared. Within that body that seemed to have one foot in the grave was a heavy aura capable of suppressing the entire ocean.
"Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe hurriedly stood up, his expression respectful.
The newcomer was none other than Shrek Academy's pillar of support, the Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Mu En had originally come specifically to find Yan Shaozhe today.
Since Bei Bei and Liu Yuan once shared a close friendship, he intended to arrange for Bei Bei to lead a team to the Bright Capital as exchange students.
In name, it was an exchange, but in reality, he wanted Bei Bei to use their personal feelings to soften Liu Yuan's heart, to see if he could ease the relationship between Liu Yuan and Shrek, and perhaps even persuade this once-in-ten-millennia Genius to return to the academy.
But when his mental force swept over the official letter on the desk and he learned of everything that had just happened, his normally kind face now displayed a rare trace of fury.
"Confused! Utterly foolish!"
Mu En slammed his hand onto the wheelchair's armrest, his aged voice exploding in Yan Shaozhe's ears like a thunderclap.
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head in fear. "Teacher, I did it for the academy's dignity..."
"Dignity? You are merely inviting humiliation!" Mu En glared at Yan Shaozhe, his eyes full of disappointment.
"I originally planned for Bei Bei to try and repair the relationship; that was our last chance. But you, you just had to use that condescending, threatening tone to provoke Jing Hongchen! Do you truly believe the current Sun Moon Empire is still the same pushover mess it was a hundred years ago?"
"You keep saying Liu Yuan received Shrek's teaching, but are you not clear in your heart? That was his own talent! Your current actions have not only pushed Liu Yuan to the opposite side of Shrek, but have also personally placed Shrek over the fire! Now that the exchange is completely severed, Bei Bei cannot go, and Liu Yuan cannot return. Are you satisfied?"
Mu En coughed violently twice out of anger. Du Weilun hurried forward to support him, but Mu En waved him away.
"Yan Shaozhe, remember this: Shrek's glory is not earned by suppressing geniuses, but by inclusivity. You and Xuan Zi have truly led this ten-thousand-year foundation into a dead end!"
Mu En let out a long sigh, his appearance instantly seeming years older.
His plan had been disrupted, and the final thread of connection between Shrek and Liu Yuan had been personally severed by Yan Shaozhe.
...
Meanwhile, in the Sun Moon Empire, Bright Capital.
Unlike Shrek's gloom and misery, the sunlight in the Bright Capital seemed exceptionally bright.
Liu Yuan continued to maintain his regular academy life.
And on this day, a piece of good news arrived.
After several days of baptism under Jing Hongchen's personal supervision, with the cooperation of three Titled Douluo and the ninth-rank spirit tool 'Purifying Light,' the evil aura within Tang Ya was completely expelled. Her originally collapsing Origin was forcibly stabilized and reshaped.
When Liu Yuan stepped into the laboratory, he saw a Tang Ya who had regained her vitality.
She had taken off those lifeless black robes and changed into the navy blue uniform unique to the Sun Moon Royal Academy.
Her once-withered long hair had become dark and lustrous again, and the red glow in her eyes had long since vanished, replaced by a clarity born from surviving a disaster.
"Liu Yuan!"
Seeing Liu Yuan enter, Tang Ya stood up abruptly and rushed to him in a few quick steps. Her eyes were slightly red as she gave a deep bow. "Thank you... truly, thank you. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would be a walking corpse by now."
Liu Yuan reached out to help her up, his tone natural and indifferent. "Alright, thanking me once is enough. Since you're healed, don't mention those depressing things anymore. I said I could save you, so I definitely could."
He examined Tang Ya's condition and nodded with satisfaction. "Mhm, it looks like you've recovered well. Since you'll be staying here from now on, you need to adapt as quickly as possible."
"Let's go, I'll take you around to get familiar with the campus. From now on, you are a member of the Sun Moon Royal Academy."
Tang Ya nodded heavily. Here, she felt no ostracization; instead, because of her connection to Liu Yuan, she received the highest level of care.
This sense of stability was something she had never experienced during her years of wandering in the Heaven Dou Empire.
Liu Yuan led Tang Ya on a stroll through the academy.
Along the way, countless students and teachers would stop in their tracks upon seeing Liu Yuan, respectfully addressing him as "Lord Duke."
This allowed Tang Ya to once again witness Liu Yuan's status in the Sun Moon Empire; he was truly the center of everyone's attention.
After walking around, Liu Yuan brought her to the classroom of the advanced class.
The people sitting here were the top talents of the Sun Moon Royal Academy, and it was also Liu Yuan's class.
"Everyone, let me introduce you."
Liu Yuan led Tang Ya through the door and smiled slightly at the people in the classroom. "This is Tang Ya; she'll be our new classmate from now on. Xiao, Meng, please look after her."
Xiao Hongchen still maintained his arrogant look, but in the face of Liu Yuan, he restrained himself significantly, chuckling, "Since she was brought by Brother Liu Yuan, she's naturally one of our own. Don't worry, with me here, no one will dare bully you."
Meng Hongchen leaned in curiously, taking Tang Ya's arm and saying with a smile, "The girl Brother Liu Yuan brought is really pretty."
After a simple exchange of pleasantries, the atmosphere in the class was very harmonious.
Tang Ya's originally tense heartstrings completely relaxed.
However, at that moment, the classroom door was suddenly pushed open.
An extremely sharp Sword Qi, as if it could slice through the air, instantly swept through the entire classroom.
The newcomer was dressed in grey, his figure as straight as a sword, with a heavy black sword strapped to his back.
Those eyes held no ripples, only an extreme obsession with the way of the sword.
The Sword Nut, Ji Juechen.
"Liu Yuan."
Ji Juechen's voice was dry and devoid of any pleasantries, getting straight to the point: "I've come looking for you many times. Every time, you weren't here. Today, I've finally run into you."
Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Looking for me? Is there something you need?"
Ji Juechen gripped the hilt of the sword on his back, a fanatical Battle Intent igniting in his eyes. "A duel."
Liu Yuan paused, then turned to look at Xiao Hongchen beside him, asking in confusion, "He said he's come looking for me many times? How come I didn't know?"
Xiao Hongchen spread his hands helplessly, wearing an expression that said he couldn't stand it. "He really isn't bragging; he truly did come many times. But unfortunately, every time he picked a moment when you weren't around."
Ji Juechen stared fixedly at Liu Yuan, his tone sincere and firm: "Please duel with me once."
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