As the vacation drew to a close, the group parted ways after leaving Hao Tian Fortress, each heading to their respective destinations.
Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Wang Dong'er returned to Shrek Academy.
Chen Junting, Gu Tianchen, and Huo Yuhao headed back to Mingdu.
When news reached Lin Jiayi—the head of student affairs—that the three had returned to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, he breathed a sigh of relief… yet his heart also sank with anxiety.
The relief was understandable. Exchange students, in essence, served as mutual hostages between institutions. A delayed return during vacation was excusable—but failing to show up after the term began? That would be a diplomatic disaster.
As for his anxiety…
Well, those two "little troublemakers" were back!
Upon hearing Lin Jiayi's report, Jing Hongchen actually felt considerably better. At the very least, he knew the most terrifying figure—the little girl with a Limit Douluo protector—hadn't returned. If she had been harmed, he'd be facing another divine-level catastrophe his fragile nerves couldn't endure a second time.
As for the other two, he issued clear instructions:
Aside from the soul guidance research zones and exhibition halls, they were free to go anywhere within the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy—and even throughout Mingdu itself.
After all, the recent mass extermination of Holy Spirit Cult branches couldn't be hidden, even from the ailing old emperor. The resulting imperial wrath had triggered a city-wide purge: every shadowy operation, every hidden den, was ripped out by the roots.
Even Crown Prince Xu Tianran couldn't interfere.
The Holy Spirit Cult's schemes in Mingdu were, for now, frozen.
Thus, the next few months passed in quiet simplicity.
The moment Huo Yuhao returned to the Mingde Hall laboratory, he dove straight in—immersing himself in developing new soul guidance devices and collaborating with Xuan Ziwen on Battle Armor research.
Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen's days were equally uneventful—either exploring the outskirts of Mingdu or seeking out Ji Juechen for sparring sessions, followed by deep meditation and cultivation.
Ji Juechen, for his part, welcomed these encounters wholeheartedly.
Truly, one was eager to fight, the other eager to be fought.
Time flowed on—until the exchange program between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy finally neared its end.
And on the very day it concluded…
Office of the Head of Student Affairs, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy
Lin Jiayi, buried under mountains of paperwork, was hard at work—when two withdrawal applications landed on his desk.
"You want to drop out? Before graduation?!"
Lin Jiayi stared at Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyang as if they'd lost their minds. Graduation was barely a year away—why quit now?
There had to be a reason.
When pressed, Jing Ziyang tried to stay vague. After all, defecting from the Sun Moon Empire to join the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was hardly news their alma mater would celebrate.
But Ji Juechen—ever blunt, ever stoic—stated his purpose plainly:
"I'm going to the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect… so I can challenge Chen Junting anytime."
Lin Jiayi nearly spat blood from rage.
Good! Just great!
You damn Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
You're poaching students right from under our noses now?!
Swallowing his fury, Lin Jiayi ground out, "Are you telling me there's no one left in the academy—or the empire—you can fight?!"
Ji Juechen said nothing. He just stared.
And in that silence, Lin Jiayi remembered—of course. Ji Juechen had already challenged every fighter in the academy. His question had been pure frustration.
Faced with their unshakable resolve, Lin Jiayi had no choice but to approve. He knew full well—if he refused, they'd simply vanish anyway. The fact they'd formally submitted withdrawal requests was likely out of respect for the school.
Still… this needed to be reported to Dean Hongchen.
After all, these two weren't ordinary students. Ji Juechen had been personally placed in the Soul Guidance Combat Department by Jing Hongchen himself, and Jing Ziyang was a prodigy in soul guidance research.
As soon as Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyang left, Lin Jiayi hurried straight to the dean's office.
What he didn't know was—
"Damn you, Xuan Ziwen!"
Dean's Office, Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy
Jing Hongchen glared at the resignation letter on his desk—delivered on Xuan Ziwen's behalf—alongside complete research data and final schematics for his sealed soul-guided baby bottle.
He felt physically ill.
Xuan Ziwen—the academy's Chief Soul Guidance Engineer, disciple of Elder Kong, a figure of untouchable prestige and privilege in the entire Sun Moon Empire—had resigned?!
Was this some cruel joke?
Only after interrogating the messenger and confirming Xuan Ziwen had already left did Jing Hongchen accept the unthinkable.
And where would Xuan Ziwen go?
Jing Hongchen didn't need to guess. He knew his colleague too well—Xuan Ziwen would never abandon soul guidance research. Which meant someone had lured him away.
And who had Xuan Ziwen been working with most closely lately?
Jing Hongchen's eyes blazed.
"Huo Yuhao!"
Thus, his current rage.
Just then—
"Dean!"
Lin Jiayi's urgent voice rang from outside.
Jing Hongchen's heart dropped like a stone.
A moment later…
"DAMN THAT NINE TREASURE GLAZED TILE SECT!"
…
That afternoon, a farewell ceremony was held in the academy square for the Shrek students.
Even Crown Prince Xu Tianran appeared in person to see them off.
"This Crown Prince seems rather decent," Gu Tianchen remarked from a nearby elevated spot, arms crossed, voice tinged with unexpected approval.
"Is that so?"
Chen Junting's quiet scoff instantly drew Gu Tianchen's attention.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Chen Junting didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Do you know what I learned from that evil soul master Title Douluo?"
"What?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Gu Tianchen understood.
His gaze shifted to Xu Tianran—so graceful, so warm—and all admiration vanished, replaced by cold, hidden killing intent.
He never imagined…
That Xu Tianran was this kind of person!
Even worse—that the very Crown Prince, the future emperor, was the one backing the Holy Spirit Cult's spread in the Sun Moon Empire. With a ruler like this, the people's suffering was inevitable!
—
Meanwhile, Jing Hongchen approached Xu Tianran.
"Your Highness," he bowed.
"Dean Hongchen," Xu Tianran said pleasantly, "I've heard about the recent… departures."
Jing Hongchen nearly broke into a cold sweat.
He already knows? The news only broke this morning!
"Your Highness, I—"
"I'm not blaming you," Xu Tianran cut in gently. "Rain falls when heaven wills it; mothers marry when they choose. If they wish to leave, we can't chain them here. Let them accompany the Shrek students."
Jing Hongchen instantly grasped the implication.
But…
Hesitation flickered across his face.
Xu Tianran caught it immediately.
"Don't worry, Dean. No matter what happens, Shrek can send at most two Limit Douluos. And they… are very confident about this."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With that, Xu Tianran departed under escort—giving the Shrek group a courteous nod as he left.
Soon after, Chen Junting and Gu Tianchen joined the Shrek delegation. Under Jing Hongchen's command, several academy instructors activated flying soul guidance devices, escorting the Shrek students skyward—heading east.
Hours later, they reached the exchange point.
The Shrek side had already arrived.
Deans Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er stood side by side.
Behind them followed the Royal Sun Moon students—led by the Hongchen siblings.
Chen Junting, however, noted that Meng Hongchen looked pale—her eyes locked on Huo Yuhao with utter despair. Clearly, she'd learned the truth about Wang Dong'er's gender.
Then, as representative, Yan Shaozhe stepped forward.
"Hall Master Hongchen… we meet again."
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