Suotuo City was no tourist Holy Land, especially at night. Yu Yan and Xiao Wu wandered around the vicinity of Suotuo City, and as the eastern sky began to brighten, they returned to Suotuo City along the way.
After a casual breakfast, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu prepared to find Zhu Zhuqing and take her back to the Exotic Beast Academy to Cultivate diligently.
The two matters they came to Suotuo City for were settled, and there was no one else here requiring special attention. Staying any longer would be meaningless; it was better to return early to prepare for the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament starting next year and fulfill the promise made to the Exotic Beast Academy.
Arriving at the hotel where Zhu Zhuqing was staying, Yu Yan knocked on the door and saw her again. Her Spirit Power Level had already risen from Rank 27 to Rank 28, likely because she had taken the pill he gifted her last night.
"Setting off now for the Exotic Beast Academy?"
After Zhu Zhuqing walked out, Yu Yan directly proposed the idea of starting their journey.
"Mm."
Zhu Zhuqing, who momentarily didn't know how to interact with Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, nodded her head. She went back into the room to pack her things and followed Yu Yan onto the road toward the Exotic Beast Academy.
To hitch a ride and save some trouble, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu followed their old habit. They took a mission to Häagen-Dazs City at the Soul Master Guild in Suotuo City and boarded a merchant caravan's carriage.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't say much. She silently followed behind Yu Yan and Xiao Wu, observing their every move and thinking about the two choices Yu Yan had proposed... Meanwhile, let us turn our attention to Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
As the eastern sky began to brighten, the flames rising from Ma Hongjun's body flickered one last time before the energy was exhausted and dissipated for various reasons.
Oscar, who had been observing the changes in Ma Hongjun's body, hurriedly went to Ma Hongjun's side after the flames were extinguished and placed his hand on him to check his condition.
"He's alive!"
Confirming that Ma Hongjun had come back to life, Oscar slumped onto the ground. He stared at Ma Hongjun, who had suddenly become skin and bones, his eyes filled with astonishment.
Clearly, he had personally checked and confirmed Ma Hongjun's death earlier. Who could have imagined that Ma Hongjun would actually come back to life right before his eyes?
It was certainly a good thing that his friend could be resurrected, but recalling the scenes he had witnessed, Oscar felt it was truly bizarre.
Initially, the flames on Ma Hongjun's body were a deep dark red and full of vitality. It was during this stage that Ma Hongjun's life state rapidly improved.
Later, when the dark red flames reached a Peak and the Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit automatically appeared and attached itself to Ma Hongjun's body, everything began to turn for the worse.
Not only did Ma Hongjun's life state begin to decline, but his originally chubby appearance also gradually turned into a state of skin and bones. The Evil Fire Phoenix lost its former glory, and the flames burning on his body began to grow weak.
Then, it became the scene seen before him. Although Ma Hongjun had successfully come back to life, his overall state was not considered good.
Slumped on the ground, Oscar gathered his emotions and carefully hoisted Ma Hongjun onto his back. He carried him toward the village where Shrek Academy was stationed. These matters were not something he could handle; he had to go back and find the teachers.
While running toward Shrek Academy, Oscar was still worried about Zhao Wuji's situation.
Returning to Shrek Academy, Oscar found the three teachers still at the academy as quickly as possible and briefly informed them of what had happened last night.
After some discussion, Shao Xin, a food system Spirit Master, stayed at Shrek Academy to look after the heavily injured Ma Hongjun. Lu Qibin and Li Yusong, who possessed decent combat strength, went to the place Oscar mentioned to search for Zhao Wuji's whereabouts.
Zhao Wuji had turned into ashes and scattered with the wind. The scene had also been briefly handled by Yu Yan. Naturally, Lu Qibin and Li Yusong could see nothing at the place where the battle occurred.
Left with no choice, Lu Qibin returned to Shrek Academy to guard against any unforeseen events, while Li Yusong went to Suotuo City to find Dean Flender.
Learning of his Disciple's tragic state, Flender immediately returned to Shrek Academy to personally examine Ma Hongjun's condition. Unfortunately, Flender was not a man of vast knowledge. He circled around the heavily injured and unconscious, yet slightly improved, Ma Hongjun several times, but could not see what exactly had happened to him.
Unable to think of a solution, Flender decided to write a letter to ask his friend for help, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang... More than a week later, Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, and the Spirit Cat Dark Snow brought Zhu Zhuqing back to the Exotic Beast Academy. After letting Xiao Wu go back first to tidy up their living quarters, Yu Yan took Zhu Zhuqing to find Vice Dean Jiang Jing to have her arrange Zhu Zhuqing's enrollment.
"Dean Jiang Jing, I'm here to report back from my leave."
Pushing the door open and entering Jiang Jing's office, Yu Yan sat opposite her desk with a grin, informing her of his return.
"Only thirteen days late this time. That's considered timely."
Having grown accustomed to Yu Yan and Xiao Wu returning late, Jiang Jing didn't even look up as she cleared their leave records.
"Aiya, there's no need to mention that every time I come back."
"Then should I nag you a few more times like I used to?"
"No, no, no, Dean Jiang Jing. I went out this time and recruited a little Genius for our Exotic Beast Academy. With her joining the Exotic Beast Team, our chances of winning the championship will increase by a few more points."
Hearing Jiang Jing's counter-question, Yu Yan waved his hands repeatedly and gestured for Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing outside the door, to enter. He introduced her to Jiang Jing: "Her name is Zhu Zhuqing. Her Spirit is the Nether Cat, and she is currently a Rank 28 agility-attack system Spirit Grandmaster."
"Nether Cat? The Star Luo Zhu Family?"
Jiang Jing looked at Yu Yan, confirming with him if the information she heard was correct.
"Correct."
The Nether Cat Martial Soul was extremely famous. Just hearing of this Spirit would reveal Zhu Zhuqing's identity. Yu Yan had no intention of hiding it.
"She wanted to come herself?"
Seeing Yu Yan openly admit that Zhu Zhuqing was from the Star Luo Zhu Family, Jiang Jing began to subtly ask Yu Yan if he had recruited this student for the Exotic Beast Academy through legitimate means.
It was common knowledge that the children of the Star Luo Zhu Family all attended the Star Luo Imperial Academy.
Assuming Yu Yan wasn't lying, Jiang Jing was truly curious about how Yu Yan had managed to abduct a highly talented girl from the Star Luo Zhu Family to attend the not-quite-top-tier Exotic Beast Academy.
"She came voluntarily. Isn't that right, Zhu Zhuqing?"
The extremely clever Yu Yan naturally understood the meaning Jiang Jing wanted to convey with her question. While answering Jiang Jing, he turned his head to let Zhu Zhuqing give Jiang Jing the answer.
"Yes, I came voluntarily."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and repeated Yu Yan's words.
"See, she's voluntary." Seeing that Jiang Jing still wanted to say something, Yu Yan quickly spoke up: "If the Star Luo Dai Family or Zhu Family come to hold us accountable, just push everything onto me. If that doesn't work, you can even push it onto the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo."
"Fine."
Jiang Jing, who had been struggling a bit, immediately changed her attitude upon hearing that the matter could be pushed onto the Poison Douluo.
"Um, Dean Jiang Jing, seeing as Zhu Zhuqing's talent is so good, shouldn't you give her some ice soul flowers?"
"Naturally. Even if you didn't say it, I would have provided Zhuqing with ice soul flowers."
"I've recruited a Genius for the academy, can the academy give me a few more ice soul flowers?"
"No."
"Then can I have some seeds?"
Under Zhu Zhuqing's shocked gaze, Yu Yan began a battle of wits with Jiang Jing and successfully obtained thirty ice soul flower seeds from her.
Having reaped a bountiful harvest, Yu Yan exchanged a few words with Zhu Zhuqing and then turned to leave the office, preparing to go back and share the good news with Xiao Wu that he had finally obtained the ice soul flowers.
Jiang Jing thought that without the proper methods and a precious location, Yu Yan would be unable to keep the ice soul flowers alive. However, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well showed that it ignored these rules; as long as they were planted, they would live.