Shrek Academy.
Du Weilun clutched the slightly crumpled official letter in his hand as he stood outside Yan Shaozhe's office. Letting out a long sigh, a bitter expression appeared on his face.
Just as he had expected.
Even before receiving the reply, he had already guessed how Jing Hongchen would react.
What he hadn't expected was that the usually smooth and diplomatic Dean Hongchen would be so decisive this time, leaving no room for compromise whatsoever.
Pushing open the door, he entered the office, which remained as gloomy as ever.
Yan Shaozhe was leisurely trimming a pot of rare ornamental greenery. Hearing the door open, he spoke without looking up.
"Weilun, how did it go? Has the Sun Moon side already begun discussing the arrangements for escorting Liu Yuan over?"
"Remember, the reception should be somewhat grand. After all, we need to give that child the feeling of 'coming home.'"
Du Weilun remained silent for a moment before handing over the letter.
"Dean... the reply has arrived. However, the result is completely different from what you expected."
The pruning shears in Yan Shaozhe's hand paused.
Frowning, he took the letter.
But the moment his eyes landed on the bold handwriting and the sharp, uncompromising wording, his refined face instantly darkened.
"Complete cancellation of the exchange program? Indefinite suspension of all academic cooperation?"
Reading the lines filled with sarcasm and ridicule, especially the final phrase—disdain to associate with such people—Yan Shaozhe's hands trembled slightly with anger.
Bang!
He slammed the shears onto the desk, his breathing growing heavy as he completely lost his composure.
"Madness! That old fox Jing Hongchen must have gone mad!"
"For the sake of a single Liu Yuan, he's willing to sever an exchange tradition that has lasted nearly a century? Does he have any idea how much this will affect the interaction between spirit tool research and Spirit Master cultivation?"
"And he dares to call Liu Yuan their Duke..."
"He actually dares to challenge Shrek's authority openly!"
Yan Shaozhe gritted his teeth, hostility almost spilling from his eyes.
He had believed that by holding the trump card of Shrek's orthodox educational system, the Sun Moon Empire would have no choice but to compromise.
Never in his wildest dreams had he expected them to flip the table entirely—and slap him in the face while doing it.
"He truly is mad..."
At that moment, a gentle yet immensely authoritative voice suddenly echoed through the office.
Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun both stiffened before quickly turning around.
Space rippled slightly.
An old man seated in a wheelchair appeared silently in the room.
Though his body looked frail and close to the end of its lifespan, an overwhelming aura capable of suppressing oceans rested within him.
"Teacher!"
Yan Shaozhe hurriedly rose to his feet.
The newcomer was none other than Shrek Academy's pillar of support—
Dragon God Douluo, Mu En.
Mu En had originally come specifically to see Yan Shaozhe.
Because Bei Bei and Liu Yuan had once shared a close friendship, he had planned to arrange for Bei Bei to lead Shrek's exchange student delegation to Bright Capital.
Officially, it would be an exchange program.
Unofficially, he hoped Bei Bei could use their personal relationship to mend the rift between Liu Yuan and Shrek, perhaps even persuading this once-in-ten-thousand-years genius to return.
But after his spiritual sense swept across the official letter and he learned what had happened, the kindness that usually filled his aged face vanished.
In its place was a rare trace of fury.
"Foolish! Utterly foolish!"
Mu En slammed his hand against the armrest of his wheelchair.
His aged voice exploded like thunder in Yan Shaozhe's ears.
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head immediately.
"Teacher, I only did it for the academy's dignity—"
"Dignity?"
Mu En glared at him, disappointment filling his eyes.
"This isn't preserving dignity. This is inviting humiliation!"
"I had intended to send Bei Bei to repair the relationship. That was our final opportunity."
"But you..."
"You just had to provoke Jing Hongchen with that arrogant, threatening attitude."
"Do you truly believe today's Sun Moon Empire is still the same weak nation it was a century ago?"
His voice grew colder with every word.
"You keep claiming that Liu Yuan benefited from Shrek's teachings. But deep down, aren't you perfectly aware of the truth?"
"His achievements came from his own talent."
"Your actions haven't merely pushed Liu Yuan further away from Shrek—they've placed Shrek itself over an open flame."
"Now the exchange program has been completely severed. Bei Bei cannot go, and Liu Yuan certainly won't return."
"Are you satisfied now?"
Mu En coughed violently from anger.
Du Weilun immediately stepped forward to support him, but Mu En waved him away.
"Yan Shaozhe, remember this."
"Shrek's glory was never built by suppressing geniuses."
"It was built through inclusiveness."
"You and Xuan Zi..."
"You have truly led this ten-thousand-year foundation into a dead end."
Mu En let out a long sigh.
In that instant, he seemed to age several more years.
His plans had been ruined.
The final thread connecting Shrek and Liu Yuan had been personally severed by Yan Shaozhe himself.
...
Meanwhile, in Bright Capital of the Sun Moon Empire.
In stark contrast to Shrek's gloomy atmosphere, the sunlight over Bright Capital seemed exceptionally bright.
Liu Yuan continued living his normal academy life.
And on this day, good news finally arrived.
After several days of treatment personally supervised by Jing Hongchen, assisted by three Titled Douluo and the ninth-grade spirit tool Purifying Light, all of the evil energy within Tang Ya had been completely expelled.
Her damaged Origin had been forcibly stabilized and reconstructed.
When Liu Yuan stepped into the laboratory, he saw a completely revitalized Tang Ya.
The lifeless black robes were gone.
She now wore the navy-blue academy uniform unique to Sun Moon Royal Academy.
Her once-dull hair had regained its silky black luster, and the crimson glow in her eyes had vanished, replaced by the clarity of someone who had survived disaster.
"Liu Yuan!"
The moment she saw him enter, Tang Ya immediately stood up and rushed over.
Her eyes reddened as she bowed deeply.
"Thank you... truly, thank you."
"If it weren't for you, I would probably have become nothing more than a walking corpse."
Liu Yuan helped her up and replied casually,
"Alright, thanking me once is enough."
"Since you're healed, stop dwelling on the past."
"I told you I could save you, and I meant it."
He carefully examined her condition and nodded in satisfaction.
"Looks like you've recovered well."
"Since you'll be staying here from now on, you'll need to adapt as quickly as possible."
"Come on. I'll show you around the academy."
"From today onward, you're officially a member of Sun Moon Royal Academy."
Tang Ya nodded heavily.
Here, she felt no rejection.
Because of Liu Yuan's presence, she had instead received the highest level of care and attention.
This sense of security was something she had never experienced during her years wandering through the Heaven Dou Empire.
Liu Yuan led her through the academy grounds.
Wherever they went, students and teachers alike stopped to respectfully greet him.
"Lord Duke."
"Lord Duke."
"Lord Duke."
The constant greetings once again demonstrated to Tang Ya just how high Liu Yuan's status had become within the Sun Moon Empire.
He truly stood at the center of attention.
After touring the academy, Liu Yuan brought her to the advanced class.
The students gathered here were all among the academy's most outstanding talents.
It was also Liu Yuan's own class.
"Everyone, let me introduce someone."
Leading Tang Ya into the room, Liu Yuan smiled slightly.
"This is Tang Ya."
"She'll be joining our class from now on."
"Xiao, Meng, help her get settled."
Xiao Hongchen still wore his usual arrogant expression, though it was noticeably restrained in front of Liu Yuan.
Chuckling, he said,
"Since Brother Liu Yuan brought her here, she's one of us."
"Don't worry. With me around, nobody's going to bully you."
Meng Hongchen immediately walked over, linking arms with Tang Ya while smiling warmly.
"The girl Brother Liu Yuan brought is really pretty."
After a brief round of introductions, the atmosphere quickly became harmonious.
The tension in Tang Ya's heart finally faded away.
But just then—
Bang!
The classroom door was suddenly pushed open.
An incomparably sharp sword intent swept through the room as though it could split the air itself.
The newcomer wore gray clothing.
His posture was as straight as a drawn sword, and a massive black blade rested across his back.
His eyes contained no emotion—only an unwavering obsession with the path of the sword.
Sword Maniac, Ji Juechen.
"Liu Yuan."
His voice was dry and direct, devoid of any pleasantries.
"I've come looking for you many times."
"Every time, you happened to be away."
"Today, I've finally found you."
Liu Yuan raised an eyebrow.
"Looking for me?"
"Do you need something?"
Ji Juechen grasped the hilt of the greatsword on his back.
A fanatical fighting spirit ignited within his eyes.
"A duel."
Liu Yuan paused before turning toward Xiao Hongchen beside him.
"He says he's looked for me many times."
"Why didn't I know about this?"
Xiao Hongchen spread his hands helplessly.
"He's not exaggerating."
"He really did come looking for you several times."
"The problem is that every single time, he somehow managed to pick the exact moment you weren't here."
Ji Juechen stared directly at Liu Yuan.
His voice was sincere and unwavering.
"Please."
"Fight me once."
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