In the Headmaster's office at Shrek Academy.
"This soul bone is a special reward I've prepared for you. It's suitable for both assault-type and control-type spirit masters. It's a left leg bone known as the Void Leopard's Left Leg Bone. When fused, it can enhance the spirit master's speed and grants a left-leg-based attack skill. Now, it's yours." Yan Shaozhe took a yellow-glowing soul bone from his storage soul tool and let it hover mid-air before Xiao Yan and the Lan sisters.
"A... soul bone?" The Lan sisters looked shocked, but Xiao Yan didn't even spare it a second glance.
Yan Shaozhe smiled lightly. "Yes, a soul bone. This reward is for you three as a team, so who receives it is up to you. But remember, don't let this prize harm your friendship."
Looking at the yellow-glowing soul bone, Xiao Yan's brow furrowed. He recalled an old tale—"Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors." The academy could have chosen various rewards, but why a soul bone?
Nonetheless, he held little interest in it. If it were a hundred-thousand-year-old soul bone, he might consider it. But this?
"Thank you, Headmaster Yan." The Lan sisters exchanged glances, carefully storing the soul bone away, then followed Xiao Yan out of the office. He remained silent and looked lost in thought.
Outside, Lan Susu spoke up. "Sister, Xiao Yan didn't receive core disciple status. Without him, we wouldn't have won the championship. I think we should give him this soul bone. What do you think?"
"Yes, I was thinking the same," Lan Luoluo replied.
Seeing Xiao Yan's serious expression, the sisters assumed he was upset about the lack of core disciple recognition. However, that wasn't the case.
Xiao Yan firmly shook his head, explaining, "I've already said, I don't care about Shrek Academy's so-called core disciple title. I don't need this soul bone either. You two should take it and absorb it when you have the chance."
Lan Susu paused. "But Xiao Yan, if it weren't for you, we couldn't have won the championship. The academy's decision-makers are so blind—they didn't even recognize you as a core disciple."
"Keep the soul bone. Consider it a gift from me." Xiao Yan pushed the soul bone back towards them, adding sincerely, "I really don't need it."
"Alright then, we won't argue." Seeing his persistence, the Lan sisters reluctantly accepted it. "But if we ever win another soul bone as a team, you'll have to take it."
"Alright." Xiao Yan nodded, moving ahead.
Just then, two figures approached him: Wang Yan and Vice Dean Qian Duoduo from the Soul Tool Department.
"Mr. Wang, who is this?" Xiao Yan asked, glancing at the tall, familiar figure beside Wang Yan. Wang Yan looked uncharacteristically serious today; usually, he wore a friendly smile, but now he appeared visibly upset. He introduced them, saying, "Xiao Yan, this is Vice Dean Qian Duoduo of the Soul Tool Department. I recently approached Headmaster Yan about the core disciple matter, but unfortunately, he refused to make any changes. I'm very sorry..."
"Don't worry, Mr. Wang. Core disciple status isn't important to me," Xiao Yan replied, a calm smile on his face.
Wang Yan sighed, lowering his head. "Vice Dean Qian Duoduo learned about your first spirit ring skill and wanted to invite you to join the Soul Tool Department as a core disciple. What do you think? Although I'm a teacher in the Martial Soul Department, I don't oppose my students studying soul tools. In fact, I encourage my students to explore a blend of martial souls and soul tools."
"Xiao Yan, you're an exceptionally talented student, someone with boundless potential. But the academy leadership is stuck in their ways. I approached both Headmaster Yan and Elder Xuan, yet they dismissed you as lacking the potential worth nurturing. Even after winning the freshman championship, they still refused you core disciple status. I don't want my student's potential buried within the academy. That's why I brought Vice Dean Qian here, hoping that the Soul Tool Department could offer you a place as a core disciple."
Wang Yan's face bore clear signs of frustration and disappointment, and his expression was bleak.
"The Soul Tool Department?" Xiao Yan murmured, narrowing his eyes as he recalled his initial visit with Wang Yan. There, he had seen objects that resembled modern devices, some of which looked strikingly similar to contemporary weapons.
Qian Duoduo, standing next to Wang Yan, spoke up. "Soul tools are the product of evolving times. Refuse to keep up, and even Shrek Academy will eventually become obsolete. Our academy has a deep foundation, yes, but how long can that last? It's your choice whether or not to join the Soul Tool Department—I won't force you."
Finishing his statement, Qian Duoduo looked slightly anxious. He understood all too well how deep-rooted traditional martial soul cultivation was within Shrek Academy. Although the Soul Tool Department had existed for years, it had always been overshadowed by the Martial Soul Department and struggled to gain true prominence.
Xiao Yan hadn't expected the Soul Tool Department to extend an olive branch at a time like this. But he was about to embark on a path that might put him at odds with the academy.
After pondering a while, Xiao Yan raised his head to meet the gazes of Qian Duoduo and Wang Yan. "Can I spend some time learning more about soul tools first?"
"Of course," Wang Yan and Qian Duoduo replied, smiling.
With that, they led Xiao Yan to the soul tool testing grounds, where Qian Duoduo began explaining various types of soul tools: melee soul tools, long-range soul tools, and stationary soul tools.
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