By the time Jing Shaoyu and his group returned to Shrek Academy from the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, the moon was already high in the sky.
They found a nice restaurant within the Outer Academy with a good atmosphere and food to celebrate. After dinner, everyone returned to their respective quarters.
Jing Shaoyu called out to Ye Xinglan.
"What is it?" Ye Xinglan asked with a cold expression, her eyes slightly evasive.
"Here, this is for you. It can enhance your physique," Jing Shaoyu said with a gentle smile, holding a white sandbag in his palm. The bag emitted a faint medicinal aroma.
The white sandbag contained the Dragon Tendon Body-Tempering Medicine prepared by Leng Yaozhu. He had already given one to Xu Xiaoyan, and this was the second one. He hadn't planned to give one to Ye Xinglan so easily, but plans often change. After all, they had already shared a certain level of intimacy.
"What do you mean by this?" Ye Xinglan looked down at the medicine bag in Jing Shaoyu's hand, then raised her eyes to meet his. In his bright, star-like eyes, she saw clarity and warmth. Her heart stirred, but her tone remained stiff. "Do you think that just because we can perform a Martial Soul Fusion, I should be like Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue, with my heart and body branded with your name?"
"Did I say that?" Hearing Ye Xinglan's prideful yet stubborn words, Jing Shaoyu didn't argue back. His smile remained warm as he directly grabbed Ye Xinglan's hand and placed the body-tempering medicine in it. He spoke calmly, "I'm just fulfilling my responsibility as a teammate and captain. You don't need to be so tense. As for the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, you don't have to worry about it or resist it. The control over it lies with you, not me."
Ye Xinglan was stunned. She stared blankly at Jing Shaoyu, whose smile under the streetlight was dazzling and warm, like a sun in the cold universe, illuminating the galaxy and stirring the tides.
"Alright, it's getting late. You've had a long day. Go back and rest," Jing Shaoyu said gently, looking at the dazed Ye Xinglan.
"Oh," Ye Xinglan responded softly, lowering her head to look at the white medicine bag in her hand. She turned and quickly walked away.
Her steps were somewhat disordered, just like her heart. For the first time in fourteen years, something other than the sword had entered her heart.
Watching Ye Xinglan's retreating figure, Jing Shaoyu's lips curled slightly. Feeling pleased, he followed her toward the dormitory building.
At that moment, a chubby young man stood at the entrance of the dormitory, a simple smile on his face as he watched the passing crowd, his eyes scanning as if waiting for someone.
Suddenly, the young man's eyes lit up with joy, and he hurried forward, calling out, "Sister Xinglan!"
However, Ye Xinglan, deeply lost in her own thoughts, didn't notice him. She quickly brushed past him and hurried up the stairs, disappearing from his sight.
Xu Lizhi's expression turned blank. Had Sister Xinglan just ignored him? He felt a bit dejected but quickly regained his smile, thinking, "Sister Xinglan must have been in a hurry and didn't notice me. That must be it."
Recalling the care Ye Xinglan had shown him in the past, this thought became even more firm in his mind.
"Xu Lizhi, what are you doing here?" Jing Shaoyu asked with a strange expression as he entered the dormitory and saw Xu Lizhi blocking the entrance.
"Oh, it's the class monitor," Xu Lizhi turned around, surprised to see Jing Shaoyu. He quickly greeted, "I was looking for Sister Xinglan, but she seemed to be in a hurry and didn't have time to talk to me."
"Is that so?" Jing Shaoyu said, "Sister Xinglan had a tough afternoon, so she probably wanted to rest early."
"That makes sense. I knew it," Xu Lizhi immediately broke into a simple, happy smile. "Then, class monitor, I'll head back to my dorm too." With that, he happily ran into the dormitory building.
Jing Shaoyu shook his head in amusement, not paying much attention to Xu Lizhi, and quickly went upstairs.
"Tsk tsk~ Youth is so wonderful!" An elderly man with white hair sitting on a recliner by the dormitory entrance let out a meaningful sigh.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye, and the first-year students' final exams began.
In the first-year classroom, all the students sat upright, their eyes fixed on the podium where Shen Yi and Wu Zhangkong were announcing the content and rules of the final exam.
Shen Yi smiled and said, "The first academic year's teaching has concluded. Now comes the part you've all been waiting for—the final exam!"
Her words, coupled with her smile, sent a chill down the students' spines. Shen Yi's demeanor made it clear that this final exam was going to be no ordinary test.
"This is your first comprehensive evaluation since entering Shrek Academy, and it's also a test of what you've learned over the past year," Shen Yi continued with a smile. "According to the academy's rules, there's a minor exam every year and a major exam every three years. This first-year final exam is naturally a minor one, so you should be relieved—failing this exam won't get you expelled."
The students didn't dare breathe too loudly. Though Shen Yi said that failing wouldn't lead to expulsion, they knew things weren't that simple.
"However," Shen Yi's tone shifted, her smile still in place, "as we mentioned at the start of the term, the academy employs a bottom-five elimination system. So, in this final exam, the five students who rank at the bottom will be directly advised to leave. Therefore, failing isn't a big deal as long as you're not among the last five."
"Teacher," Jing Shaoyu suddenly raised his hand.
"Speak," Shen Yi looked at him, and Wu Zhangkong also turned his gaze toward him.
"I heard that if everyone passes the final exam, the bottom-five elimination system won't be triggered. Is that true?" Jing Shaoyu asked.
His words caused the eyes of the lower-ranked students in the class to light up, and a glimmer of hope appeared in their hearts.
"That's correct," Shen Yi nodded. "The final exam will use a scoring system. If everyone's score is above the passing line, the bottom-five elimination system won't be triggered. However, the passing line for next year's final exam will be raised by five points."
Shen Yi's confirmation made everyone feel a bit relieved, but not entirely. After all, this system essentially placed their hopes on the future. Indeed, Shrek Academy's strictness was no joke.
"The latest novel releases are available at 69shu.com!"
"Now, let's announce the content and rules of the final exam," Wu Zhangkong stepped forward and said. "The final exam will last for fifteen days. During this period, you must travel to Mingdu, passing through at least ten cities along the way, including Mingdu itself. In each city, you must defeat an opponent whose cultivation level is at least five ranks higher than yours.
"How you find your opponents, how you defeat them, and how you travel to Mingdu are all up to you. The academy won't impose any specific requirements, but one thing is certain—no cheating! If you're caught cheating, you'll be expelled immediately.
"If you reach Mingdu and return to the academy within the fifteen-day limit, you'll pass the exam. Your specific score will be evaluated based on the strength of your opponents. If you fail to return to the academy within fifteen days, you'll fail the exam, and your score will be halved. Remember, the academy will send specialized teachers to secretly monitor you. Don't think about trying to outsmart them. The proctors are only responsible for recording your exam behavior—they won't interfere in anything else.
"If you provoke an opponent you can't handle, the proctors won't step in to help.
"Additionally, before leaving the academy to start the exam, everyone must hand over all personal belongings except for your Soul Master ID card and student ID. You're not allowed to travel in groups within Shrek City, nor are you allowed to help each other during the exam. Understood?"
"Understood!" the students responded loudly.
Jing Shaoyu's expression was a bit speechless. This exam style was truly in line with Shrek Academy's character! No wonder, in the original story, Tang Wulin and his group had chosen to attack the city guards, the Spirit Transfer Pagoda, and even block the entrance to the Sun Moon Royal Academy.
His only thought was: "Unbelievable."
"Alright, the final exam begins tomorrow morning. Everyone can go back and prepare now," Shen Yi clapped her hands and said. "All class officers, stay behind."
The classroom quickly emptied, leaving only the seven class officers led by Jing Shaoyu, along with Shen Yi and Wu Zhangkong.
Jing Shaoyu looked at the two teachers with some confusion, unsure why they had asked the seven of them to stay.
"To keep it brief, your final exam content is different from the other students," Shen Yi said directly. "What we just announced doesn't apply to you, so you don't need to worry about it."
This left Jing Shaoyu and the others stunned. Jing Shaoyu was the first to react, asking in surprise, "Teacher Shen, are you saying our final exam has a separate arrangement?"
"That's right," Shen Yi nodded. "Your f
inal exam content has been personally arranged by Elder Cai, and she will also personally oversee it."
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/QueenTL
Thanks!