The bloody scent in the forest had not yet dissipated. The fallen figure of that overbearing thousand-year Wind Baboon was etched into the eyes of Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and Tang Ya like a brand.
They remained silent for a long time, their minds uncontrollably replaying that soul-stirring scene—Liu Yuan's figure moving so fast it became an afterimage, a flash of golden light, and the powerful thousand-year Spirit Beast crashed to the ground.
That extreme speed, that precise and overbearing piercing power, completely subverted their understanding of combat at the Soul Elder level.
Liu Yuan silently deactivated his Martial Soul Possession. The emerald light bands and golden electric arcs surrounding him quietly receded, and the heart-palpitating sharp aura vanished without a trace.
He first reached out to pull up Tang Ya, who was still sitting on the ground with a dazed expression, then walked to the other side to help up Bei Bei, who was also somewhat lost in shock.
"Are you okay?" Liu Yuan's voice broke the silence of the forest.
This inquiry was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, finally bringing Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and Tang Ya back to their senses from the immense shock.
Bei Bei subconsciously shook his head and replied, "I'm fine..."
But he immediately looked up, his eyes filled with unprecedented suspicion and curiosity. After hesitating for a moment, he finally couldn't help but ask:
"Liu Yuan, you... is it convenient for you to talk about what just happened?"
"Yeah, yeah!" Tang Ya also followed up with a barrage of questions, pointing at Liu Yuan with a tone full of disbelief, "Your Spirit, how did it become like this?"
"I remember it used to be a Wind Spirit Snake, but now... why does it feel like a Dragon? And how did your spirit rings go from three back to one? Your first spirit ring is... a black 10,000-year soul ring? What on earth is going on!"
Facing the questioning of his two friends, Liu Yuan only smiled and did not reply for the time being.
He knew that the changes in him were too shocking, and a sentence or two couldn't explain it clearly.
Seeing this, Bei Bei immediately showed his mature and steady side. He gently pulled Tang Ya's sleeve and used his usual gentle voice to resolve the situation with high emotional intelligence:
"If you don't want to say, you don't have to. After all, everyone has their own secrets. We were just too surprised and asked casually."
Liu Yuan gave Bei Bei an appreciative look. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to reveal a little, saying in a half-true, half-false tone:
"I suppose I gained a bit of an Opportunity, and my Spirit mutated because of it. In short, many things happened after I left the academy."
This was a vague answer that could block most questions.
Bei Bei was a smart man. He heard Liu Yuan's reluctance to talk further, so he didn't continue to press for details about the Spirit and spirit rings. He only sighed with sincere emotion, "No matter what happened, you've become much stronger than before."
"That instantaneous speed... I couldn't even see your movements clearly. If Xuan Zi knew your current strength, he would probably regret it to death, wouldn't he?"
Liu Yuan smiled indifferently, a flash of confident light in his eyes: "It's just a temporary lead."
This was not humility, but the truth. Having awakened Mega Rayquaza and obtained the "Extreme Speed" Spirit Ability, his potential was far beyond what it used to be. He was confident that he would only get stronger and stronger.
Looking at the calm composure on Liu Yuan's face, Bei Bei felt even more mixed emotions.
He tried once more to persuade him to stay: "Liu Yuan, are you really not coming back? I'm sure I can get you back into Shrek. With the strength you just showed, the academy will definitely re-examine your punishment. You will surely receive the attention you deserve!"
Liu Yuan shook his head firmly, rejecting Bei Bei's kindness.
He looked at his two friends and said seriously, "Bei Bei, Xiao Ya, thank you. But everything I said before was from the heart. I am already disappointed in that place. A broken mirror is hard to mend; I can't go back."
He paused, changed the subject, and put on a free and easy smile again, "Besides, the world is vast. I am now full of expectations for my future travels."
From Liu Yuan's clear and firm eyes, Bei Bei understood his unshakable determination. He could only sigh helplessly and stop persuading.
"Alright, all good things must come to an end." Liu Yuan patted Bei Bei's shoulder, then smiled at Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao, "This time, we're really parting ways."
After saying that, he no longer had the slightest hesitation. He turned around, waved his hand with his back to the three, and took firm steps. His figure soon disappeared into the depths of the dense jungle.
Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and Tang Ya stood there, watching the direction where Liu Yuan had left for a long time, their hearts filled with complex emotions.
"Sigh, Shrek has truly... lost a top-tier Genius!"
Bei Bei finally let out a long sigh, his tone full of regret.
"The Soul Master Tournament will start next semester. With the strength Liu Yuan just showed, if he could represent our academy, our chances of winning the championship would greatly increase."
"Now... I'm just afraid he'll join another academy. Then we'll have an unimaginable rival!"
"Then we'll blame Xuan Zi!" Tang Ya said indignantly, feeling the injustice of her friend's situation, "It's his own blindness that pushed such a Genius out of the academy's gates with his own hands!"
Huo Yuhao had been listening quietly, his fists clenched tightly.
Big Brother Liu Yuan's effortless figure, his advice to "stay true to one's heart," and his aloofness that would rather break than bend under oppression left an indelible mark in his heart.
After the brief interlude, Bei Bei and Tang Ya's moods also calmed down a lot.
They had completed the purpose of this trip and took Huo Yuhao back on the road to Shrek Academy.
Time passed, and two days later.
Shrek Academy, Sea Gods Pavilion.
After Bei Bei settled Huo Yuhao in the freshman dormitory and instructed him on some precautions, he went straight to the Sea Gods Pavilion.
He had important matters to report to his Progenitor Xuan, the Sea Gods Pavilion Master Mu En.
When he stepped into the quiet room where Elder Mu often stayed in the Sea Gods Pavilion, he found that the Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Yan Shaozhe, and the Gluttonous Douluo, Xuan Zi, were both present.
The atmosphere in the quiet room was somewhat heavy, as if an unpleasant conversation had just ended.
"...That aura has completely disappeared. We mobilized the members of the Supervision Team to search outside the city for several more days, but we still found nothing." Yan Shaozhe's voice carried a hint of fatigue and annoyance.
Xuan Zi, on the other hand, was rarely without his wine flask. His face was so dark it could drip water: "It's like it appeared out of thin air and then vanished. Except for that amazing energy residue, there are no clues at all. It's really a headache!"
Bei Bei was a bit bewildered. After all, he hadn't been in Shrek for a while, so he didn't know about the "Rayquaza" incident. After hearing what Xuan Zi and the others were discussing, Bei Bei felt completely confused.
However, he had originally come here to report to Mu En about meeting Liu Yuan, witnessing his huge changes, and the unfair treatment he received from Xuan Zi.
But seeing that Xuan Zi was also here, Bei Bei frowned.
He had a special status and was not afraid of Xuan Zi.
But it seemed somewhat inappropriate to denounce Xuan Zi to his face...
At that moment, a gentle and aged voice rang out from the inner room.
"Bei Bei, you're here."
"Elder Mu, Elder Xuan, Dean Yan." Bei Bei respectfully saluted the three.
Mu En's voice continued: "We've finished talking. How did things go on your trip to the Star Dou Great Forest? Did you find a suitable spirit ring for Xiao Ya?"
Bei Bei quickly replied, "Yes, Elder Mu. We were lucky and found a spirit ring very suitable for Xiao Ya. She has successfully absorbed it."
"That's good." Mu En's tone sounded a bit more relaxed.
Bei Bei took a deep breath and continued, "But Elder Mu, besides this matter, another... perhaps more important thing happened on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest."
"Oh?" Mu En's tone revealed a hint of curiosity, "Let's hear it."
Bei Bei organized his words and said in a low voice, "There, I saw Liu Yuan, who was expelled from the academy a few days ago."
"Liu Yuan?" Yan Shaozhe frowned slightly.
Beside him, the moment Xuan Zi heard this name, his eyes suddenly narrowed. An invisible pressure spread out, and his sharp gaze pierced directly at Bei Bei.
Although he had always been lawless within Shrek Academy, Mu En was the only one he had always feared.
If Mu En found out what he had done and blamed him...
Thinking of this, Xuan Zi couldn't help but grit his teeth.
Mu En obviously didn't know about this.
Since suffering heavy injuries years ago, Mu En had stopped managing affairs. Most of the time, he focused on recuperating.
Nowadays, Shrek Academy was facing a gap between generations. He still needed to preserve his useful self so that he could stand in the way of disaster for Shrek Academy when it was needed.
Therefore, at this moment, Mu En asked Bei Bei again, "Liu Yuan? You mean that Outer Court student with the Wind Spirit Snake Spirit and extraordinary talent? I remember him; he's a good seed. When was he... expelled?"
Although Elder Mu's voice was still calm, the doubt contained within it made the hearts of Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe skip a beat at the same time.