Shrek Academy - Inner Courtyard.
Yan Shaozhe stood in front of his desk, which was covered with broken blueprints Du Weilun's team had found on the bodies of the evil soul masters.
His gaze was focused and serious. His fingers gently stroked the edges of each blueprint, as if trying to uncover hidden clues.
"These evil soul masters are really not simple," Yan Shaozhe muttered, frowning.
Du Weilun and the others stood respectfully to the side, observing. Seeing that Yan Shaozhe hadn't made a move for a long time, Du Weilun suggested, "Dean, these patterns seem similar to the core arrays of soul guides. Should we ask Vice Dean Qian or Dean Xian to take a look?"
Hearing "Dean Xian," a complicated look flashed in Yan Shaozhe's eyes. He shook his head slightly and replied, "No need for now."
He picked up a few of the broken blueprints and gave instructions:
"I'll try to assemble these drawings first. Weilun, Zhao Gang — the two of you write down the patterns I piece together. Later, we'll send the finished patterns to Qian Duoduo."
Du Weilun immediately complied. He and Zhao Gang focused all their attention, recording the patterns each time Yan Shaozhe managed to fit a fragment together.
As the drawings gradually came together, Yan Shaozhe's soul power faintly circulated on the surface of his body, ready to respond if any strange changes occurred.
At the moment when the first drawing was fully pieced together—
Suddenly!
The blueprint emitted a dazzling light!
Then, with a loud bang, the blueprint exploded!
The weak explosion instantly blew apart the desk, smoke and dust filling the office.
Yan Shaozhe's figure stood steadily amidst the chaos, protected by a soul power shield. His expression, however, was unreadable under the swirling smoke.
Du Weilun, Zhao Gang, and the others were shocked, but they quickly stabilized.
Yan Shaozhe bent down, picked up a fragment of the exploded blueprint. Although part of the pattern was destroyed, much of it remained intact — perhaps still worthy of study.
"It seems the matter is even less simple than we imagined," he said grimly.
Du Weilun and Zhao Gang nodded heavily.
---
Later that evening — at the lakeside of Sea God Lake.
The breeze gently stirred the water, sending ripples across the surface.
In the soft afterglow of sunset, Chen Junting and Ning Tian walked side-by-side on a winding path. Their shadows stretched out behind them, long and quiet.
It seemed time itself had slowed.
But Ning Tian's voice eventually broke the calm:
"Brother Junting, the academy will go on holiday tomorrow."
Chen Junting smiled faintly. "So soon?"
Ning Tian nodded earnestly. "I was thinking... should we hold a farewell banquet tonight?"
Chen Junting stopped walking and glanced at Ning Tian.
He understood Ning Tian well. The moment she raised this topic, he knew her heart was already made up.
"Sure," he agreed readily. "A small gathering is better anyway — too many people, and it gets noisy. Just some close friends is good."
Ning Tian smiled brightly. "Good!"
At the lakeside campfire that night, a farewell banquet was held.
Gathered together were Beibei, Xu Sanshi, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Chen Junting — and a few others from their freshman assessment teams.
They grilled meat, drank wine, laughed loudly under the stars.
The aroma of roasting meat floated over Sea God Lake, and the lively laughter could be heard drifting into the distance.
At the party—
"Ji—, Yuhao! Why did you say Xin chose to go to school?! Ji—" Wu Feng shouted, holding a skewer of meat in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.
Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong glanced at each other and wisely took a few steps back.
Ning Tian, slightly flushed from drinking, leaned closer to Chen Junting. "You... you're really good at drinking," she muttered, voice slightly slurred.
Chen Junting chuckled and poured her another cup.
"You especially like to drink, huh?"
He filled his own glass too, the aroma of alcohol rising. He did not use soul power to purge the alcohol — he allowed it to burn warmly through his body.
Under the light of the fire, the atmosphere became slightly emotional.
---
Elsewhere at the banquet.
Zhao Gangxin raised his cup, laughing heartily.
"If he needs help," Zhao Gangxin said to Chen Junting, "the door of the Four Treasures Glazed Sect is always open to him."
Chen Junting lifted his cup in gratitude.
"Farewell," he said.
Zhao Gangxin smiled and clinked his glass against Chen Junting's.
"It's always better to talk about some things face-to-face. A banquet like this, with good wine, makes everything easier."
And so, under the stars and firelight, the night deepened.
---
Meanwhile, earlier that afternoon...
At the Sea God Pavilion, Du Weilun had reached out to the students.
After accepting the assembled blueprints written by Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, he said:
"Next, you must go meet the elders at the Sea God Pavilion."
"As for us," he added, "we'll handle the follow-up here."
The students bowed and took their leave.
---
Back at the lakeside.
The party was still lively.
But some, like Fan Xing, grew melancholic. After drinking too much, he slumped onto the grass, muttering grievances.
Even Wu Feng, after being scolded jokingly by Dugu, burst into tears — overwhelmed by bottled-up frustrations.
"Did you hit your head?" Ning Tian teased lightly. "Why cry? He's more like a woman than you."
The words made the others laugh.
But there was warmth in the air — a bond forged through battles, hardships, and shared memories.
---
As Chen Junting looked around at his companions, he thought silently:
Everything tonight is outside the wine.
Tomorrow, they would all set off toward new paths.
Tonight — they simply celebrated friendship.
---
(End of Chapter)
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