The morning bell at Shrek Academy rang late.
Not because Zhao Wuji overslept—but because someone had arrived before dawn, standing patiently outside the gates, unmoving as a statue.
By the time the teachers noticed, it was already too late to pretend nothing was happening.
A Spirit Hall envoy had come.
The gates opened slowly.
A man in his thirties stepped inside, dressed in pristine white robes trimmed with gold. His expression was gentle, his smile practiced, his posture impeccable. Behind him walked two attendants, heads lowered, carrying an ornate black-and-gold box.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes darkened instantly.
"Spirit Hall," he said flatly.
The envoy bowed politely. "Inspector Mo Chen, at your service."
Zhao Wuji crossed his arms. "Shrek Academy doesn't accept inspections."
Mo Chen smiled. "I'm not here to inspect."
His gaze drifted—unhurried, deliberate—until it settled on Lin Chen.
"I'm here," he continued smoothly, "to deliver a gift."
The courtyard went silent.
Xiao Wu's fingers twitched.
Zhu Zhuqing stepped half a pace closer to Lin Chen without realizing it.
Lin Chen met Mo Chen's eyes.
"From whom?" Lin Chen asked.
Mo Chen's smile deepened, just a fraction.
"From Her Holiness," he said reverently. "The Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall."
A ripple passed through the students.
Tang San's expression hardened.
Mo Chen gestured, and the attendants stepped forward, opening the box.
Inside lay three items:
A purple-gold soul bone fragment, its surface alive with faint divine runes.A sealed jade vial, radiating pure spirit energy.And a black crystal token, engraved with a six-winged emblem.
Mo Chen spoke softly, carefully.
"The soul bone is a gift of goodwill. The vial contains Spirit Hall's finest cultivation essence. And the token…"
He paused.
"…is an invitation."
Lin Chen didn't move.
"An invitation to where?" he asked.
Mo Chen's voice lowered, almost intimate.
"To Spirit Hall's inner sanctum," he said. "Where geniuses are not restrained by… small academies."
Zhao Wuji took a step forward. "That's enough—"
Lin Chen raised a hand.
Zhao Wuji froze.
Lin Chen stepped closer to the box, gaze unreadable.
"And the price?" he asked calmly.
Mo Chen spread his hands. "There is no price. Only opportunity."
Lin Chen smiled faintly.
"That's the most expensive thing you could offer."
Mo Chen chuckled lightly. "Her Holiness appreciates honesty."
Lin Chen reached out—
Not for the token.
But for the soul bone.
The moment his fingers brushed it, the runes flickered violently—then went still, as if subdued.
Mo Chen's pupils shrank.
He suppressed it… effortlessly.
Lin Chen lifted the soul bone, examined it once, then placed it back into the box.
"A generous gift," he said. "But misplaced."
Mo Chen's smile tightened. "Meaning?"
"I won't go to Spirit Hall," Lin Chen said evenly. "Not now."
The courtyard exhaled.
Mo Chen studied him closely. "And later?"
Lin Chen met his gaze.
"Later," he replied, "you won't be the one asking."
Silence.
Then Mo Chen laughed softly.
"As expected," he said. "Her Holiness anticipated resistance."
He closed the box with a gentle click.
"But gifts are not withdrawn," he continued. "They are… deferred."
Mo Chen bowed once more—this time not to Zhao Wuji, not to Yu Xiaogang—
But to Lin Chen alone.
"When the world turns sharper," he said quietly, "remember that Spirit Hall opened its doors to you first."
He turned to leave.
As he passed Xiao Wu, his steps faltered—just for a heartbeat.
His eyes flicked to her.
A chill ran through the air.
But Lin Chen's presence shifted instantly.
Mo Chen straightened and continued walking, sweat beading at his temple.
The gates closed.
Only after Spirit Hall's envoy vanished did Zhao Wuji release the breath he'd been holding.
"…That was a threat," Oscar muttered.
Tang San looked at Lin Chen. "And a test."
Lin Chen nodded.
"Yes," he said. "And they learned something."
Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him. "What?"
Lin Chen's eyes hardened slightly.
"That I won't kneel," he said."And I won't trade people for power."
Far away, within Spirit Hall's highest chamber, Bibi Dong listened to the report.
She smiled.
"Good," she murmured."Now I'm certain."