After absorbing all the gathered energy, Gu You didn't continue deeper but instead pressed the red button on his wrist, exiting the Ascension Platform.
As he reappeared, surrounded by the purple glow of a completed ascension, the staff all shot curious glances at him. The moment he opened his eyes, he noticed that Leng Yaozhu was already gone.
"Hello, this is from Her Eminence Tianfeng. She asked me to pass it to you."
A staff member respectfully handed Gu You a platinum-colored card with both hands.
Gu You accepted it, inspecting it curiously. It looked like it was made of some kind of alloy, smooth and cool to the touch. If anyone skilled in forging had been present, they would've been shocked to recognize that this card was made from a Grade-3 Spirit-Forged Scarlet Spirit Alloy — highly fire-attributed and extremely rare, especially at the spirit-forged level.
Under the envious gazes of all the staff, Gu You left calmly. He didn't know exactly what the card was for, but he could guess: either it contained money, or it was some kind of access pass.
I wonder if Xinya is still here? It was already dusk — time had flown by.
Gu You rode the elevator down to the first floor of the Spirit Transferring Tower. The lights were still bright, staff members were still busy, and people bustled back and forth.
Scanning the area, Gu You was surprised to spot Xinya sitting cross-legged, deep in meditation.
As Gu You approached, ready to wake him, a figure brushed lightly past his shoulder. His eyes widened, and he spun around.
It was a girl, wearing white pants and a white blouse. She looked about his age, with black hair falling just to her neck. Among their peers, her figure was slightly above average, slender and well-proportioned.
"Gu Yue," Gu You whispered softly to himself. He wasn't surprised to see the Silver Dragon King here — after all, Leng Yaozhu had another disciple: her.
He didn't dwell on it, though. Instead, he sat cross-legged next to Xinya and waited until dawn.
"You — you actually remembered to come back! Do you know how long I waited for you?! Hey… wait a second, why do you look taller?"
Xinya was grumbling beside him, half-scolding, half-surprised.
"Alright, alright, I know, I owe you one. How about this — let's go eat first. I'm starving!" Gu You patted Xinya on the shoulder.
The moment he mentioned food, Xinya's face darkened. Shrek City was already more expensive than the outside world; one meal here could easily wipe out five or six months of his salary. Fine, he thought, I can endure. I'll just make sure this kid pays me back later…
Watching Gu You eat with blissful satisfaction, surrounded by empty plates and bowls, Xinya nearly broke down. How can he eat even more than before?!
After wiping his mouth, Gu You looked at Xinya.
"Alright, enough eating. Let's talk business. When do I go to Shrek Academy?"
Xinya lowered his eyes.
"You can go now. I just need to make a soul communicator call, and someone from the Sea God Pavilion will be sent to pick you up. Once you arrive, you'll train in the inner court."
Gu You nodded thoughtfully.
"And you?"
"Me?" Xinya pointed at himself, then, after paying the bill, gazed up at the sky.
"I go home, of course. I don't have your kind of talent, and I never had a chance to enter Shrek."
Watching Xinya's lonely figure walk away, Gu You felt, for the first time, that having talent wasn't always a blessing — but lacking it was almost certainly a curse.
"Xinya… I'll leave Teacher Shen and Grandma in your care. Consider that another favor I owe you, alright?"
"It's only right. And no need to say you owe me. Honestly, I should be thanking you. Because of you, I got promoted and got a raise. I owe you more."
Xinya dialed the communicator, spoke briefly, then hung up.
"Just wait here. Someone will come pick you up. I've passed along your location."
Gu You raised a hand, wanting to pat Xinya's shoulder, but once again, that invisible wall stood between them — unseen, untouchable.
Not everyone was born a prodigy. This was destined to be both a comedy and the most unforgettable parting.
A breeze swept by. Suddenly, a figure shot through the sky toward Gu You. He immediately tensed — but the figure stopped in front of him, hovering gracefully.
She had white hair, a strikingly beautiful face.
Gu You immediately recognized her: the woman known among Shrek's students as the White-Haired Witch — Shen Yi.
"You're Gu You?" Shen Yi asked curiously, studying the boy.
"Yes," Gu You replied, feeling like fate had some odd connection between him and the Shen name.
"Come with me. My teacher wants to see you."
Before Gu You could respond, Shen Yi grabbed his hand. Twin soul wings spread from her back, and she shot into the sky, heading straight for Shrek Academy.
"Wait — no! I get motion sick…"
In Gu You's eyes, Xinya grew smaller and smaller, until he finally disappeared from sight.
Inside Shrek's Sea God Pavilion, Yun Ming gently combed Ya Li's hair.
"Still thinking about that boy?" she asked softly.
"Mmm. After all, the Federation personally sent him here. I'm curious about him too. Have you decided?"
"I'll follow your lead," Yun Ming said, kissing Ya Li on the cheek.
…
Meanwhile, Shen Yi shot Gu You a side-eye filled with disgust as he retched violently.
"Ugh. You're still at it? You just stuffed yourself, and now you're riding the human equivalent of a fighter jet."
Gu You, in between dry heaves, glared at her.
"Hmph! Don't get cocky, kid. If my teacher didn't want to meet you, I'd have thrown you out already. Specially invited, huh? You're just here because of your background." Shen Yi snorted.
"What background? Are you crazy?" Gu You rolled his eyes, exasperated.
"You little—"
"A spirited child. I like that."
An elderly voice cut off their bickering.
Both Gu You and Shen Yi turned sharply.
"Teacher," Shen Yi greeted respectfully.
"Mmm. You've always been a fiery one, but you're better than that brat Wu Zhangkong."
At the mention of Wu Zhangkong, Zhuo Shi's eyes flared with anger — but remembering the situation, he forced himself to calm down.
Gu You stepped forward and offered a respectful salute. He knew exactly who this was. Zhuo Shi, one of the Twin Holy Dragons, titled the Crimson Dragon, with the martial spirit Crimson Armored Dragon.
"Oh? You know who I am?" Zhuo Shi asked curiously.
Gu You nodded.
"Senior's reputation is well known. Even when I was a little kid in the orphanage, I heard of you often."
Zhuo Shi laughed heartily. He was a straightforward man and naturally liked Gu You's directness.
"Good! Show me your martial spirit."
Without wasting words, Gu You summoned the Purplegold Dragon Emperor. A thousand-year soul ring floated into view, purple-gold scales gleaming over his hands, and a dragon's roar echoed through the room.
Shen Yi flinched involuntarily, while Zhuo Shi's chest heaved with excitement.
A true dragon! A genuine dragon martial spirit!
Zhuo Shi could feel his own Crimson Armored Dragon trembling. This was the bloodline suppression of a superior dragon species.
"Child, are you willing to take me as your master? At last, someone worthy to inherit my Crimson Dragon Nine Techniques!" Zhuo Shi's eyes gleamed with eagerness.
Gu You hesitated for a moment.
"Senior, I truly appreciate your kindness. But I've already taken a master."
Zhuo Shi froze.
"Who is your master?"
(End of chapter)
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