บท 19: Farewells

At the entrance of Nuoding Academy, the morning sun casts a golden hue over the four figures standing amidst their luggage. Sheng Jun, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and Xiao Wu stood together.

As they stood there, ready to embark on their respective journeys, a sense of nostalgia tinged the air. It felt surreal to think that their time as guest students at Nuoding Academy had come to an end.

Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun exchanged knowing glances, they had grown accustomed to the rhythms of academy life, but now it was time to return home, if only for a brief moment before setting out back to the Shrek Academy.

Meanwhile, Tang San and Xiao Wu had their own plans, setting out to visit Tang San's father at the Holy Soul Village. Though Xiao Wu had no desire to return home, she had the idea of accompanying Tang San on his journey.

"I guess this is it, huh, Xiao San" Sheng Jun remarked, a playful glint in his eye. "I'll be waiting for you at Shrek Academy in 5 years once you two graduate from here. Remember to keep an eye on Xiao Wu so she doesn't slack off cultivating the Heavenly Dao Sutra. I'll make sure to write you a letter once a month or so" he added.

Tang San nodded earnestly, a sense of responsibility shining in his eyes. "Don't worry, Brother Jun. I'll keep an eye on her" he affirmed. While Xiao Wu, simply stuck out her tongue in response.

Amidst their final moments together, Ma Hongjun couldn't resist as a grin spread across his face. "Heh, Xiao San, next time we meet, I'll definitely be the first to break our score of 163 ties" he declared confidently, his competitive spirit shining through. While Tang San met his challenge with a determined nod.

During their year at Nuoding Academy, amidst the academic studies and research conducted under Grandmaster's guidance, Ma Hongjun, and Tang San also engaged in countless sparring sessions.

Amidst their stay here, Tang San revealed a startling truth with Grandmaster's permission: he possessed a second martial soul, a rare phenomenon that made him only the third person in hundreds of years to possess twin martial souls. The revelation sent shockwaves through their group, but far from being discouraged, Ma Hongjun found himself even more determined.

With a fire burning within him, Ma Hongjun saw Tang San's twin martial souls not as a barrier, but as a challenge to overcome. He refused to let the revelation dampen his spirits, instead channeling it into newfound motivation. Ma Hongjun vowed to surpass his rival, confident in his ability to burn any obstacle that stood in his path.

With their farewells exchanged and their hearts heavy with the weight of departure, Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun climbed into the waiting carriage. Despite their resolve, the prospect of the long journey ahead weighed heavily upon them. Unlike the convenience of flying, they were now faced with the daunting task of traveling by carriage, a journey that would span two months just to reach Phoenix Village.

As the carriage set off, Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun gazed out at the passing scenery, their thoughts consumed by the memories of their time at Nuoding Academy.

…

A couple of days later, as Sheng Jun held up the drop of golden liquid, its radiant glow illuminated the interior of the carriage, casting a warm and inviting aura. Ma Hongjun's curiosity was piqued, his eyes widening with fascination as he observed the mesmerizing sight before him.

"What is this, Brother Jun?" Ma Hongjun inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity and excitement.

Sheng Jun's expression lit up with enthusiasm as he explained "This is the Sun's Essence. Remember when I told you it would take at least a year for it to materialize? Well, today is coincidentally the day it materialized"

The significance of the moment was not lost on Sheng Jun, his eyes sparkling with anticipation as he held the droplet in his hand.

Ma Hongjun's cheeky grin widened as he eyed the droplet hungrily, his desire to consume the essence evident in his eager expression. "Brother Jun, how about you give that to me? It might be dangerous for you to consume it alone, with my vitality you don't have to worry about me" he suggested with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, unable to resist the allure of the Sun's Essence.

Sheng Jun's mouth twitched slightly as he fought the urge to reprimand him with a slap. With a resigned sigh, he held the droplet out to Ma Hongjun.

However, before Ma Hongjun could react, Sheng Jun swiftly brought the droplet to his lips and consumed the Sun's Essence in one gulp, leaving Ma Hongjun staring at him in disbelief.

Ignoring the fallen expression on Ma Hongjun's face, Sheng Jun closed his eyes, allowing the potent energy of the Sun's Essence to suffuse his being.

As Sheng Jun delved deeper into the sensation coursing through his veins, he found himself enveloped in a cocoon of scorching warmth that seeped into every fiber of his being. The intense heat, though initially overwhelming, soon transformed into a soothing balm that calmed his spirit and invigorated his body.

Subconsciously, he assumed the meditation position, allowing the potent energy of the Sun's Essence to flow freely within him. With each passing moment, he felt his cultivation speed skyrocket by at least 3 times, his body absorbing the essence of the golden droplet with unprecedented efficiency.

In addition to the surge in cultivation speed, Sheng Jun also sensed a remarkable increase in the regenerative power of his body. It was as though his very cells had been revitalized by the essence, imbuing him with a newfound resilience and vitality. Sadly he felt that these effect will vanish within a month.

As he contemplated the extent of the Sun's Essence's effects, Sheng Jun couldn't help but entertain the thought of stacking multiple droplets to amplify its potency. However, he quickly dismissed the notion as impractical, as the experiment requires more than one Sun's Essence, which he didn't have right now, besides such experimentation could yield unpredictable results and potentially waste his precious droplets.

Pushing aside his idle musings, Sheng Jun refocused his attention on his cultivation, channeling the newfound energy coursing through his veins. With each breath, he felt himself drawing closer to his goal, reaching level 20 is in his reach before he journeyed back to the Shrek Academy.