Spring passed and autumn came, and that year, we were thirteen.
Shrek Academy's triennial Outer Courtyard assessment began again.
The trio of Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan, just like in the original story, were late for the assessment because Tang Wulin broke through his seal.
After facing constant targeting, they finally entered Shrek Academy as work-study students.
On the way to the Inner Courtyard, Xu Xiaoyan complained in a low voice, "That Mr. Cai really targeted us to death."
"Hmph!" Zhuo Shi snorted coldly, "Who told you to be late? Allowing you to take the assessment was already an extra act of grace."
"Moreover," Zhuo Shi revealed a smile that looked particularly gleeful to others, "believe me, Cai Yue'er only gave you a zero on one section; if this were before, you'd start with a zero on at least three sections."
Tang Wulin and the others exchanged glances, not quite understanding Zhuo Shi's meaning.
Had Cai Yue'er suffered some kind of setback?
Zhuo Shi brought the zero-grade Teacher and students to Sea God Island.
As soon as they landed on the island, two people walked towards them.
Tang Wulin stared at the two for a long time, always feeling inexplicably familiar with their faces.
After racking his brains, he finally remembered that these two were Qian Mo and Gu Yuena, whom they had met during the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition.
After two years, Qian Mo had grown from a naive boy into a handsome young man.
His posture was tall and straight, and his face was so handsome that even Tang Wulin felt inferior.
In the depths of his eyes, there seemed to be golden and silver colors swirling, and a mysterious and noble aura was fully displayed in his every move.
Gu Yuena had also grown into a beauty.
Her rare silver hair and purple eyes were exceptionally stunning, her figure was graceful, and her skin was like snow.
Walking through Shrek City, she had a 100%Return Rate , being approached from one end of the street to the other.
Qian Mo and Gu Yuena also saw Zhuo Shi and his group.
A faint smile appeared at the corners of their mouths, and they politely greeted, "Hello, Zhuo Lao!"
"Hmm, you're accompanying Na'er to ask the Pavilion Master for guidance again today," Zhuo Shi said playfully.
"No choice, I have to guard Na'er well, otherwise who knows when she might be abducted," Qian Mo said with a smile.
Gu Yuena turned her head and glared at Qian Mo, shyly giving his waist a gentle twist.
Qian Mo's perfect smile almost didn't hold.
He used one hand to pull away Gu Yuena's small hand, turned his head to look at Tang Wulin, and said, "Long time no see, Tang Wulin."
"Ah? Ah!" Tang Wulin subconsciously responded, pointing to himself in confusion and asking, "You still remember me?"
Qian Mo nodded slightly, "Of course, you are one of the few peers who left an impression on me."
"That's truly a great honor," Tang Wulin raised his eyebrows, sighing in his heart, 'These words are arrogant, but Qian Mo certainly has the capital to be arrogant.'
"What about me, Senior!" Xu Xiaoyan jumped out at this moment, smiling and leaning closer to ask.
"Xu Xiaoyan, I certainly remember such a cute girl like you," Qian Mo replied.
Xu Xiaoyan's smile was radiant, "Hehe, thank you for the compliment, Senior."
"What about me, what about me?" Xie Xie impatiently pointed to himself and asked.
Looking at Xie Xie's expectant eyes, a mischievous smile appeared at the corner of Qian Mo's mouth.
He pretended to think for a moment, then shook his head, "Sorry, no impression!"
"Ah! Am I that unremarkable?" Xie Xie's expression instantly fell, and his entire person seemed to be enveloped in a shadow.
Xu Xiaoyan behind him laughed so hard she trembled, and she patted Xie Xie's shoulder in an old-fashioned manner, "In terms of looks, you're not as good as the captain, and you can't even compare to me.
In terms of talent, you're not the strongest either.
Among the three of us, you are indeed the most unremarkable!"
"Ah ah ah," Xie Xie clutched his head and cried out in collapse, "I know, I know, stop talking."
Zhuo Shi flicked his sleeve and interrupted the conversation between the young people, "Stop messing around, are you walking or not? Aren't you tired after testing all day?"
Qian Mo waved his hand, "Then I won't delay everyone's time.
See you again!"
Looking at the departing backs of Qian Mo and Gu Yuena, Tang Wulin fell into thought, but was suddenly pulled back to reality by Zhuo Shi's voice.
"You know each other?" Zhuo Shi asked curiously.
"Yes, we met during the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition," Xu Xiaoyan replied.
"Oh, I see," Zhuo Shi suddenly understood upon hearing this, "Since you were in Donghai City, you would naturally participate in the Tianhai Alliance Grand Competition."
Tang Wulin said with emotion, "Yes, that time we were fortunate enough to see Qian Mo make a move.
His strength and talent made us deeply understand what it means that there are always people better than you, and the Sky is always bigger."
"That's right!" Xie Xie nodded in deep agreement, "I wonder what level his strength has reached now?"
"His strength now," Zhuo Shi's eyes deepened, and he said in a low voice, "is far more terrifying than it was back then, even so powerful that you cannot imagine."
"How strong can a twelve-year-old child be, no matter how powerful?" Wu Changkong said coldly.
Zhuo Shi shook his head from side to side.
Seeing no one around, he whispered, "One-Word Battle Armor Master, and it's Spirit Alloy."
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this.
Wu Changkong asked in disbelief, "He's reached five rings?"
Zhuo Shi shook his head, "No, but he's close."
"But without five rings, how could he possibly control a One-Word Battle Armor?" Wu Changkong said.
Zhuo Shi sighed, and said helplessly, "How can such a genius be judged by common sense."
"Spirit Alloy, what is that?"
After a brief shock, Tang Wulin, as a forging genius, keenly sensed that the Spirit Alloy Zhuo Shi mentioned was very likely related to forging.
"You'll have to ask your Forging Teacher about that.
With your ability, you should be able to start learning about it," Zhuo Shi deliberately left it ambiguous and didn't explain clearly.
Although Tang Wulin didn't fully understand what Spirit Alloy was, he did determine one thing: Qian Mo's forging skill was above his own.
At this moment, he had a faint feeling that Qian Mo might be his biggest competitor.
On the other side, Qian Mo and Gu Yuena returned to their residence.
Qian Mo said softly, "Let's pack up.
We'll go to the Outer Courtyard in two days."
"Go to the Outer Courtyard?" Gu Yuena asked in confusion.
"Yes, when you were practicing your spear, Sister Ya Li told me that it's a Shrek tradition for Inner Courtyard disciples to go to the Outer Courtyard for experience, to meet talented peers, and compete with them," Qian Mo said.
Gu Yuena nodded, "Okay, do we need to move?"
"No need, Sister Ya Li originally wanted us to enter the Outer Courtyard as work-study students, but I refused," Qian Mo said calmly.
Regarding the work-study system, Qian Mo's evaluation of it was only four words: suffering unnecessarily.
And the suffering was completely unnecessary.
Qian Mo seriously suspected that the work-study system was designed to let students experience the poor and difficult Shrek Academy from Douluo Continent 1.
Although it was useless, he expressed his incomprehension.
So when Ya Li suggested that they enter the Outer Courtyard as work-study students, Qian Mo directly refused.
Ya Li had no choice but to break tradition and let Qian Mo and Gu Yuena study in the Outer Courtyard, but still live in the Inner Courtyard.