"You've completed nine exam sessions, each performed excellently. Only one final session remains..."
"Then this examination will conclude."
Standing beside the group, Wu Zhangkong spoke softly with a faint smile on his face.
As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously lingered on Tang Luochuan, Gu Yue, Tang Wulin, and the other former students of Zero Class.
Back then, they had been his finest students, representing Eastsea Academy in the Heavensea Grand Competition and achieving outstanding rankings.
Now, even amidst the sea of prodigies at Shrek Academy, they had not fallen behind, each shining brilliantly in their own way. Returning to Heavensea City, the same place yet entirely different—it had only been four years!
Perhaps this was the meaning of being a teacher—to witness the vistas he had never seen through the eyes of his students in the future.
"The last one..."
Beside Tang Luochuan, Tang Wulin seemed particularly distracted today, his gaze drifting unconsciously toward another direction, lost in thought.
Clearly, the closer they got to that place, the more his heart ached with longing.
After all, there was someone he deeply missed.
"So, where should we go next?"
As they stepped out of the academy, Tang Luochuan smiled slightly, holding a map in his hand as if pondering—though his eyes had already flicked toward Tang Wulin with amusement.
"..."
"Brother, everyone..."
"Next stop—how about here?"
Finally unable to hold back, Tang Wulin spoke up, pointing decisively at the map.
It was none other than the closest of the five great eastern coastal cities to Heavensea—
Eastsea City!
Perhaps it was where the dream had begun. There, he had befriended Xie Xie, met Teacher Wu, learned of his family's strength, and most importantly...
Met the one who held his heart.
He would never forget the days when she had been by his side.
He knew his current strength was still lacking, and in Shrek Academy—the continent's premier institution—he held little influence. He might not even be able to secure her admission, but...
He wanted to see her. Even if just for a glimpse!
He would let Zi Xin Jie know—he would one day have the power to bring her there!
"Want to go?"
"Then let's set off."
Seeing the emotions flickering in his brother's eyes, Tang Luochuan smiled softly, though his gaze carried a knowing glint. He had been waiting for this day.
After watching his younger brother ship his own romance for so long, it was finally time to return the favor. Besides...
This was his brother. He didn't want him to have regrets. If he wanted to go, then they would go!
"Don't leave any regrets."
Beside them, Wu Zhangkong also smiled, gently patting Tang Wulin's shoulder in silent approval.
Perhaps Luochuan's talent far surpassed Wulin's, but he always felt that Wulin resembled him more in temperament.
When it came to matters of the heart, he didn't want the boy to have regrets.
"Go for it, Wu Lin!"
Xu Xiaoyan, Wang Jinxi, Zhang Yangzi, and Wei Xiaofeng cheered him on with grins, especially Xie Xie, who had somehow conjured up a bouquet out of nowhere.
"Take it. Don't say I never supported you."
Xie Xie grinned mischievously.
"Brother, Teacher, Xie Xie, everyone..."
"Thank you!"
Tang Wulin revealed a resolute smile and nodded.
"Wu Lin has quite the story, huh?"
Beside them, apart from their former companions from Eastsea, Wu Siduo, Ye Xinglan, and Zheng Yiran clearly had no idea about the background. Their eyes brimmed with curiosity as they couldn't help but comment.
Who would've thought…
Even this little guy Wu Lin, with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, had his own share of heartfelt matters!
"Mhm…"
"The person I like is still in Eastsea."
Tang Wulin smiled sheepishly, but in his heart, that person's figure involuntarily surfaced, and the corners of his lips curled up unconsciously.
"So the one you like is still here?"
Hearing this, the three of them nodded with smiles. It seemed Wu Lin had been looking forward to this day for a long time.
"Wu Lin is so devoted, unlike a certain someone. If that someone had even half of Wu Lin's affection…"
"How wonderful that would be."
Beside them, Gu Yue let out a light hum. As she spoke, she couldn't help but pinch the flesh on the other person's arm.
There was a scoundrel on this bus—she wouldn't say who!
"Ouch—"
Though Tang Luochuan didn't feel a thing, he still put on a pained expression and leaned close to her ear, whispering softly.
"Always fooling around…"
Gu Yue's face instantly flushed red, but her words remained sharp.
"..."
Hearing this, Xu Xiaoyan, Ye Xinglan, and Wu Siduo stayed silent. Half of Wu Lin's devotion? That wouldn't do!
If that were the case, they'd have no hope at all!
"Gu Yue-jie, half of my devotion…"
"Wouldn't that mean cutting you in two?"
Nearby, Tang Wulin's attention soon shifted to Tang Luochuan and Gu Yue, and he couldn't help but think to himself.
Of course, he wouldn't say it out loud…
And as he boarded the car driven by Teacher Wu, heading toward Eastsea City, Tang Wulin's heart couldn't help but surge with excitement.
"Zi Xin-jie, wait for me!"
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in his eyes as he murmured.
Eastsea City, Eastsea Academy.
This was an academy so ordinary it was utterly unremarkable among second-tier cities, encompassing both intermediate and advanced divisions.
The only extraordinary thing was that, a few years prior, a special class had emerged here—Zero Class. Though it lasted only three years, by graduation, all eight members had without exception enrolled in Shrek Academy.
The entire class—Shrek students!
From that day on, even though Eastsea Academy no longer had a Zero Class, the legend of this class left a profound mark in the Soul Master world.
By the time Tang Luochuan and his group returned, it was already raining. Due to their past fame, the moment they encountered the security guard, he happily let them in without hesitation.
"The security uncle is really nice—he even took a photo with us."
As soon as they entered the school, Xie Xie couldn't help but chuckle, flipping his hair in a showy manner as he spoke.
"After all, our legacy still lingers in Eastsea City~"
Wei Xiaofeng also grinned, the two of them acting like a pair of jesters.
"The academy is still the same as before…"
Zhang Yangzi mused, his eyes thoughtful.
"We only left a few months ago!"
Wang Jinxi muttered weakly.
"Hahahaha…"
For a moment, Tang Luochuan, Tang Wulin, and the others wore smiles on their faces. But gradually, a scene in the distance caught their attention.
"Latest novel first published on 69shu bar!"
"That is..."
"A confession?"
Tang Luochuan's face showed contemplation, but soon his gaze paused, his eyes carrying a trace of seriousness.
"Let's go, take a look!"
"Alright, Brother."
At this moment, Tang Wulin also nodded in agreement. He couldn't shake the feeling that the figure's back...
Was all too familiar.
"Senior."
"I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"
Elsewhere, a red-haired boy held a large bouquet of flowers, his face wearing an affectionate expression as he spoke with gentlemanly grace.
Before him stood an extraordinarily beautiful young woman, dressed in an off-white long dress, her expression cold. Though her attire was simple, it couldn't conceal her refined demeanor.
By any measure, she lived up to her reputation as the campus belle. She was none other than the very Zi Xin Jie (Sister Zi Xin) that someone constantly thought of—Ouyang Zixin.
Today, Huang San was determined to succeed, having even hired a top photographer just to capture the moment he won the beauty's heart.
"I'm sorry, I have a boyfriend."
Ouyang Zixin shook her head, as if stating the simplest fact, her tone devoid of emotion.
"Everyone knows you don't have a boyfriend."
"Can't you give me a chance?"
Faced with the girl's rejection, Huang San refused to take no for an answer, his face showing urgency as he instinctively stepped forward, attempting to grab her hand.
"I said."
"I have a boyfriend."
Ouyang Zixin's face turned icy. As soon as she spoke, four purple Soul Rings materialized one after another, their overwhelming power instantly suppressing Huang San, leaving him no room to resist.
A 42nd-level four-ring Soul Ancestor!
With her current strength, she could even serve as a teacher at the academy—certainly not someone a mere troublemaker like him could provoke!
"Ouyang, the campus belle..."
"You're refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!"
The red-haired boy's face twisted with anger as he gritted his teeth and retreated, muttering resentfully.
"That genius Tang Wulin didn't even bother to take you with him, yet here you are playing hard to get. Disgusting..."
The redhead rambled on.
Hearing this, a flash of sorrow crossed Ouyang Zixin's beautiful face. No, it wasn't Wu Lin's fault—it was hers.
She wasn't qualified to stand by his side.
If only her talent had been better... But alas, there were no "ifs" in this world. She wondered if Wu Lin would one day forget about her, his Zi Xin Jie...
"He..."
"Won't come back, right...?"
The girl suddenly felt her nose sting as she murmured to herself.
As Ouyang Zixin lost herself in thought, she suddenly noticed the redhead had stopped moving. At the same time, a figure quietly appeared beside her!
"I said..."
"I have a boyfriend!"
Ouyang Zixin's face turned wary as she instinctively summoned her Martial Soul, her voice cold.
But when she turned around, her wariness vanished. Standing before her was a handsome young man, and at the sight of him, she froze.
It was none other than the person she had been longing for—not the redhead, who now lay collapsed nearby, but him!
"Wu Lin—"
"You're back!"
At that moment, Ouyang Zixin could no longer restrain her emotions. Already feeling somewhat melancholic, her feelings erupted as her eyes welled up with tears, and she threw herself into the arms of the person before her.
He was back… the Wu Lin she loved had returned…
"Zi Xin Jie…"
Tang Wulin maintained a gentle smile on his face, though his eyes had also reddened from emotion.
Pursing his lips slightly, he softly uttered the address he had longed to say countless times but only now managed to voice—Zi Xin Jie.
Today, he had finally…
reunited with the person he had longed to see.
"Though it's not the one promised…"
"But this scene is perfect for a photo!"
In the distance, the photographer someone had called over brightened at the sight and captured the moment, smiling as he remarked.
This photograph would leave a profound mark on the Douluo Continent, hailed as one of the world's great exemplars of love…
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