Qian Mo raised an eyebrow, crossed his arms over his chest, and asked with interest, "Senior, you've seen my temperament. Aren't you afraid I'll cause a Sky-shattering fuss whenever something happens at the Academy?"
Ya Li smiled gently, "That's not a problem. Shrek Academy has geniuses from all over the world. These geniuses will always have some strange tempers and habits. If Shrek Academy had poor tolerance, it would have closed down long ago."
"Furthermore," Ya Li winked playfully at Qian Mo, "conflict isn't necessarily a bad thing. Many systems and affairs are improved by discovering flaws during repeated conflicts. Just like this assessment, I found issues."
"Indeed, Shrek Academy has been too peaceful for too long. Cai Yue'er, that old fellow's suppressed strange temper, has 'resurfaced'. Perhaps it's not unrelated to this. The Academy needs some stimulation; it's time for some conflict."
Zhuo Shi saw the situation stabilize and also jumped in, putting on a look as if he feared the world wasn't chaotic enough.
Qian Mo pinched his chin and thought for two seconds, then turned to Gu Yuena and asked, "Na'er, what do you think?"
Gu Yuena's amethyst-like eyes looked intently at Qian Mo, and she said in a firm yet gentle tone, "Whatever decision you make, I will follow!"
"Alright, then I've decided to agree to your conditions, Senior."
Qian Mo immediately put on a smiling face, making the decision that was most beneficial to himself.
Ya Li was visibly relieved and smiled gently, "On behalf of Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard, I welcome the two of you. I look forward to seeing what kind of changes you can bring to Shrek Academy."
"It will definitely be a big surprise for you!"
Qian Mo raised the corner of his mouth and said mysteriously.
Zhuo Shi saw this scene, nodded with satisfaction, and praised repeatedly, "That's right. I like you, kid. You assess the situation and don't act stubbornly. Remember, don't be so stubborn all the time..."
As he spoke, Zhuo Shi suddenly became sentimental and murmured in a low voice, "Clearly, you were the same back then. It wasn't your fault, yet you were still so stubborn!"
Ya Li turned to Lan Muzi and instructed, "Muzi, take Qian Mo and Gu Yuena to the Inner Courtyard and arrange everything properly."
"Yes, Saint Spirit Your Majesty."
Lan Muzi said respectfully.
Lan Muzi opened the room door, which had closed at some point, and said to Qian Mo and Gu Yuena, "Come with me, fellow juniors."
As soon as Qian Mo and Gu Yuena stepped out of the room, Xu Lizhi anxiously came up and asked worriedly, "Qian Mo, how are you two? Did the Academy kick you out? Do you need me to beg the examiner again..."
Qian Mo quickly raised his hand to interrupt Xu Lizhi's chatter and said indifferently, "Thank you for your concern. Not only are we fine, but Na'er and I have also been exempted from the subsequent assessments and will go directly into the Inner Courtyard."
"Ah!"
This time, it was Xu Lizhi's turn to be dumbfounded. The other examinees who were listening intently couldn't help but exclaim in surprise. Even the usually indifferent Ye Xinglan's pupils contracted violently, indicating her inner turmoil.
"Didn't you two argue with the examiner?"
Xu Lizhi asked the question that was in everyone's hearts.
Qian Mo raised the corner of his mouth in a mischievous smile, then lowered it, shrugging his hands with a look of course.
"Yeah, question the examiner's decision, find their problems, argue with them, and you'll get in."
"Ah? Is that some kind of hidden rule?"
Xu Lizhi's eyes widened in astonishment, his face filled with unconcealable doubt.
"If you don't believe me, why don't you try it?"
Qian Mo raised an eyebrow at Xu Lizhi and encouraged him.
At this moment, Ye Xinglan stepped forward and said to Xu Lizhi in an annoyed tone, "Li Zhi, you don't actually believe him, do you? He's clearly lying."
"I knew something was off! So, Qian Mo, you were lying to me!"
Xu Lizhi suddenly understood and then shouted at Qian Mo with a look of grief and indignation.
"Alas, why doesn't anyone believe me when I tell the truth?"
Qian Mo said, feigning sadness.
Ye Xinglan said with a serious expression, "Whether you were telling the truth or not, when we get to the Inner Courtyard, I hope to have a match with you."
Xu Lizhi explained from the side, "Qian Mo, Ye Xinglan doesn't mean anything by it. She's just naturally competitive and likes to spar with strong people."
"I know."
Qian Mo nodded, looking at Ye Xinglan with deep eyes, which made Ye Xinglan feel a sense of panic and pressure as if her bottom line was being seen clearly.
"If you can get into the Inner Courtyard, you're welcome to challenge me."
Relieved by the promise, Ye Xinglan held her head high and walked into the room to take the assessment.
With the matter settled, Qian Mo and Gu Yuena were led by Lan Muzi to a building surrounded by greenery. The green surrounding wall was very high, making it impossible to see inside from the outside. Walking around to the front, on the huge archway, there were only two large characters: Inner Courtyard.
Entering the Inner Courtyard, the grass was lush green, and the surroundings were covered with a large amount of vegetation. Lan Muzi led the two along a small path, introducing some of the Inner Courtyard's situation and facilities as they walked.
"First of all, Shrek Academy implements a contribution points system. Everything in the Academy requires spending contribution points. How to obtain more contribution points is something the Academy's students must always consider. However, with the rewards for your excellent performance in the assessment plus the compensation given by the Academy, you two shouldn't have to worry about not having enough contribution points for a long time."
Lan Muzi pointed to a circular building, "The Inner Courtyard possesses the most comprehensive and precious cultivation resources on the entire continent. For example, the simulated training grounds necessary for Spirit Master cultivation. No matter what attribute or type of Spirit Master you are, you can find a suitable simulated training ground here."
"However, using the simulated training grounds requires consuming contribution points."
Lan Muzi reminded them.
Qian Mo nodded, thinking silently in his heart: Are the Academy's simulated training grounds suitable for the Divinity Mask Spirit?
"Also, the Heroic Spirit Stage you used in the second stage of the assessment can also be used by students in the Inner Courtyard. You can not only battle Spirit Masters but also Spirit Beasts."
Lan Muzi pointed to a circular building nearby.
The three talked as they walked, and before they knew it, they arrived at the edge of a clear blue lake. The lake water was crystal clear, and the surface shimmered with ripples, like a huge sapphire embedded there, full of the breath of life.
"This is the Sea God Lake!"
Lan Muzi stood by the lake, looking at the small island in the center of the lake with reverence.
"The small island in the center of the Sea God Lake is called Sea God Island, and Shrek Academy's highest decision-making body, the Sea God Pavilion, is located on Sea God Island."
Lan Muzi turned to look at Qian Mo and Gu Yuena and said earnestly, "Here, I hope to speak a few words as a senior student, someone with a few more years of study experience than you."
"Being too rigid makes one easily break, especially in the Academy. Many seniors in the Academy have experiences that shook the continent. In front of them, we are just insignificant existences. We should respect our elders, okay?"
Gu Yuena frowned slightly, pouted, and turned her face away.
Qian Mo shrugged and said indifferently, "If others respect me, I will respect them. Respect is always mutual. If you don't respect me, why should I respect you? Am I right, senior?"