Time flew swiftly. After passing through several uniquely charming cities and successfully completing part of their exam tasks, Fang Yang's group finally arrived at their next destination—Tianding City.
"We've reached Tianding City," Xie Xie announced, relief softening his tone.
"Mm." Fang Yang gave a slight nod, gaze sweeping the group. "Let's go straight to the Starry Sky Soul Master Academy."
No delays. They boarded the soul-guided car and headed directly toward the academy named for the heavens.
Nestled in Tianding City's southwestern corner, the Tianding Starry Sky Soul Master Academy had stood for nearly two millennia. Though it couldn't rival Shrek Academy's primordial legacy, it carried profound historical weight.
Specializing in cultivating flying soul masters, it held esteemed renown across the Sun-Moon Federation. Its mecha pilots—masters of aerial combat and mobile tactics—were fiercely recruited by military districts. Bolstered by consistent military support, the academy had surged ahead, ranking among the elite of second-tier institutions.
They stepped from the car and approached the gate.
The academy's main entrance was spectacular: metallic, over twenty meters tall and forty wide—easily accommodating mechas. Towering walls and vast grounds proclaimed its might. Nearly the entire southwestern district of Tianding City belonged to this institution.
"Who are you?" The gate guard eyed the youths' exceptional bearing, caution flickering in his gaze.
Fang Yang stepped forward, calm smile in place. "We're from Shrek Academy. Here for an exchange match with your students."
"Exchange match? Wait—you said where? Shrek Academy?!" The guard froze, disbelief flashing across his face.
That Shrek Academy—the one of the saying: "Of the continent's ten greatest geniuses, Shrek claims nine."
"Proof of identity?" the guard recovered quickly, voice measured.
Fang Yang's smile deepened. "This should suffice."
Six radiant soul rings erupted around him—glowing fiercely under the sun, radiating awe-inspiring power.
Nothing spoke louder than this raw display.
"This… Please wait!" The guard bowed deeply and hurried off.
"Fang Yang… is this really okay?" Tang Wulin murmured, uneasy. Too direct.
"Relax," Fang Yang replied, unperturbed. "Shrek Academy's conduct is the proof."
"I see…" The group nodded thoughtfully.
Behind them, Wu Zhangkong's lips twitched—but he remained silent.
Moments later, the guard returned with a composed middle-aged man.
"I am Li Zhilong, Academic Dean of Tianding Starry Sky Soul Master Academy." His eyes scanned the group, tone respectful yet assessing. "You claim to be from Shrek Academy?"
"Correct," Fang Yang affirmed, voice placid as still water.
From his composed demeanor, Li Zhilong could basically confirm the identities of these people as students from Shrek Academy.
Except for Shrek Academy students, no one could possess such confident and extraordinary temperament.
As a former student who had studied at Shrek decades ago, he was all too familiar with this style.
"Director Li—we're Outer Court students of Shrek Academy. Here for our final exam: an exchange match with your disciples," Fang Yang explained smoothly.
"Welcome!" Li Zhilong's face warmed. "Follow me—I'll arrange everything."
"Thank you, Director Li."
"No need for formality." Li Zhilong waved a hand, nostalgia in his eyes.
"Truth be told—I'm your senior. Though… I only graduated from the Outer Court."
Fifteen sessions ago, he'd walked Shrek's halls—failing Inner Court entry remained his deepest regret.
"You're our senior?!" the group gasped.
"Are you representing the Academy?" Li Zhilong asked as they walked inward.
"No, it's strictly for our exam," Fang Yang replied.
"Ah! That makes sense," Li Zhilong chuckled. "I still remember, in my generation, there was a fierce person who directly went to an Academy, fought his way in without a word, and caused a huge commotion"
"Wouldn't he get beaten?" Tang Wulin blurted, aghast.
"Shrek students? Never," Li Zhilong smiled. "Other factions? Risky. But Shrek has upheld a creed for twenty millennia:
'Not daring to cause trouble is mediocrity.'"
"Not daring to cause trouble is mediocrity…"
Silence fell.
Fang Yang's eye twitched.
When would he ever keep a straight face hearing this?
Frankly—this phrase ranked among the most audacious declarations across the entire web-novel realm.
What should be "avoiding trouble without fearing it" twisted into this?
In any other plane…it would result in instant annihilation.
"Opponent levels?" Li Zhilong shifted topics smoothly.
"Two Soul Grandmasters, three Soul Kings, two Soul Emperors," Fang Yang stated, indifferent.
Li Zhilong's eyes widened faintly—then steadied. "Arranged."
He tapped his soul-guided comm, spoke briefly, and led them onward.
They ascended past the grand main building to the rooftop.
An open-air platform stretched before them—unroofed, facing the infinite sky.
Soul-guided arrays etched along its rim pulsed with cosmic energy.
"This is our Star-Gazing Platform—elite combat training ground," Li Zhilong explained. "No flight height limits. Perfect for aerial practice and sparring."
"Day or night, activating the arrays draws starlight near—channeling stellar energy for cultivation and insight into the cosmos."
"Only our top students train here. The Academy prioritizes your match so the venue is secured. Seize this chance to touch the stars."
Above them, constellations blazed with unnatural clarity.
Stellar energy saturated the air—cool, ancient, humming with celestial promise.
The cosmos felt close enough to hold.
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