Chapter 26

The reward for the freshman assessment is two soul bones; if word got out, the intensity of the assessment would likely skyrocket a hundredfold.

Translation: "The reward for the freshman assessment is two soul bones; if others learned of this news, the intensity of the freshman assessment would probably increase a hundredfold from the start."

Check: keep numbers: two, hundredfold. Good.

A single ten-thousand-year soul bone is enough to arouse the covetousness of even Titled Douluo powerhouses.

Translation: "A ten-thousand-year soul bone is enough to arouse the covetousness of Titled Douluo powerhouses."

Keep "Titled Douluo" as the translation, translate the word for "strong" as powerhouses, and the word for "covetous" as covetousness.

Gu Yue looked at the pouch containing the soul bone all along the way, feeling low-spirited.

Translation: "All the way, Gu Yue looked at the pouch containing the soul bone, feeling low-spirited."

The term meaning "low-spirited" is kept as "low-spirited".

"What's wrong—does a ten-thousand-year soul bone shock you, or make you unable to believe it?"

Translation: "\"What's wrong, does a ten-thousand-year soul bone shock you, or make you unable to believe it? \""

"Who, who was shocked." A hint of annoyance rose on Gu Yue's icy expression.

Translation: "\"Who, who is shocked. \" A hint of annoyance rose on Gu Yue's cold expression."

"Who would have thought that Shrek could so easily produce two ten-thousand-year soul bones!"

Translation: "\"Who would have thought Shrek Academy could so easily produce two ten-thousand-year soul bones! \""

"Be shocked! If those outside sects heard that Shrek Academy just gave two ten-thousand-year soul bones to the freshmen, I'm sure they'd be even more surprised than you!"

"Be shocked! If those outside sects heard that Shrek Academy just gave two ten-thousand-year soul bones to the freshmen, I'm sure they'd be even more shocked than you!"

Gu Yue fell silent instantly.

Translation: "Gu Yue fell silent instantly."

"Humans hunt soul beasts for soul bones, and humans also kill each other over soul bones."

Translation: "\"Humans hunt soul beasts for soul bones, and humans also slaughter each other over soul bones. \""

"How ironic..."

Translation: "\"How ironic... \""

"Must humans necessarily hunt soul beasts?"

Translation: "\"Must humans necessarily hunt soul beasts? \""

"That's not a question, or rather it shouldn't be a question."

Translation: "\"That's not a question, or rather, it shouldn't be a question. \""

"This cannot be explained by reason; there is only right and wrong."

Translation: "\"This cannot be explained by reason; there is only right and wrong. \""

"But if you have enough strength, you can overturn the power of this world's rules, then you can overturn everything, and this world will run according to your ideals..."

"But if you have enough strength, you can overturn the power of this world's rules, then you can overturn everything, and this world will run according to your ideals..."

Probably: "But if you have enough strength, you can overturn the power of this world's rules, then you can turn everything around, and this world will operate according to your ideals..."

Let's translate: "\"But if you have sufficient strength, you can overturn the power of this world's rules, then you can turn everything around, and this world will run according to your ideals... \""

As he spoke, Chen Qiye was already about to leave Gu Yue's sight.

Translation: "Saying that, Chen Qiye was already about to leave Gu Yue's sight."

"Here."

Translation: "\"Here. \""

Gu Yue hastily caught the object Chen Qiye threw; seeing the object, she was startled and looked at Chen Qiye.

Gu Yue hastily caught the object Chen Qiye threw; seeing the object, she was startled and looked at Chen Qiye.

But we need to keep exactly what source says. Let's translate: "Gu Yue hastily caught the thing Chen Qiye threw over; seeing the object thrown over, Chen Qiye, Gu Yue was startled and looked at Chen Qiye."

Chen Qiye waved his hand and said, "I don't need that thing. My master told me that strength lies within oneself; only when you are strong yourself is it true strength. If you have time, help me bury this in the Star Dou Great Forest—it could be considered returning it to its homeland."

Keep "Star Dou Great Forest" as the translation.

After the sound faded, Chen Qiye's figure had already disappeared from Gu Yue's sight.

Translation: "After the sound faded, Chen Qiye's figure had already disappeared from Gu Yue's sight."

Gu Yue looked at the pouch in her hand, her lips curling slightly: "He's really an interesting human, no wonder I took a liking to him."

Translation: "Gu Yue looked at the pouch in her hand, lips curling slightly: \"He's really an interesting human, no wonder I took a liking to him. \""

"…………"

We need to output exactly the same? It's a series of dots. Should translate as "…………" maybe keep as is? The instruction: translate faithfully, never skip. So we output the same line with 【21】 and the dots. Probably keep the dots.

Although Chen Qiye kept a low profile in the following days, wherever he was seen—whether in the academy or the classroom—he inevitably drew looks of awe.

Translation: "Although Chen Qiye kept a low profile in the following days, whether in the academy or the classroom, whenever someone saw him, he inevitably garnered a wave of reverent gazes."

What surprised Chen Qiye most was that after the freshman sparring, Wang Dong's attitude toward him became much gentler, no longer opposing him in everything as before.

What surprised Chen Qiye most was that after the freshman sparring, Wang Dong's attitude toward him became much gentler, no longer opposing him in everything as before.

Regarding this, he faintly sensed a bad omen.

Translation: "Regarding this, he faintly sensed a bad omen."

So every time they talked, it turned into Chen Qiye teasing him, ending with Wang Dong getting angry.

Translation: "So every time they talked, it turned into Chen Qiye teasing him, ending with Wang Dong getting angry."

Such a situation gradually became the norm until the end of their freshman year.

Translation: "Such a situation gradually became the norm until the end of their freshman year."

Time flew, years slipped by. Eight months passed in a blink, and the annual vacation was about to begin...

Translation: "Time flew, years like shuttles. Eight months passed in a blink, and the annual vacation was about to begin..."

In the classroom of Class 1, Grade 1, after Zhou Yi and Wang Yan each finished stating what they needed to convey, the one-month vacation officially began.

Translation: "In the classroom of Class 1, Grade 1, after Zhou Yi and Wang Yan each finished stating what they needed to convey, the one-month vacation officially began."

After a year of study at Shrek Academy, the students' strength had greatly improved, and they eagerly wanted to go home to show off.

Translation: "After a year of study at Shrek Academy, the students' strength had greatly improved, and they eagerly wanted to go home to show off a bit."

Everyone wanted praise from their elders; they were still just boys around twelve or thirteen years old, naturally no exception.

Translation: "Everyone wanted praise from their elders; they were still boys averaging twelve or thirteen years old, naturally no exception."

Only the three people beside Chen Qiye looked somewhat downcast.

Translation: "Only the three people beside Chen Qiye had somewhat downcast expressions."

Huo Yuhao saw that everyone else had a home to return to, while he alone had to go to that place by himself.

Translation: "Huo Yuhao saw that everyone else had a home to return to, while he alone was heading to that place alone."

Thinking of his deceased mother, his heart felt a bit sour.

Translation: "Thinking of his deceased mother, his heart felt a bit sour."

As for Wang Dong, she didn't know what was wrong with herself; just thinking about being separated from Ye Chen for a month made her feel inexplicably uneasy.

Ye Chen

Thus translation: "As for Wang Dong, she didn't know what was wrong with herself; whenever she thought about being separated from Ye Chen for a month, she felt an inexplicable unease."

Over the past year, she had grown accustomed to arguing with Chen Qiye; although most of the time she ended up on the losing side, fuming, but now that they were about to part, she also felt reluctant.

Translation: "Over the past year, she had grown accustomed to arguing with Chen Qiye; although most of the time she ended up on the losing side, extremely angry, but now that they were about to part, she also felt reluctant."

The little girl's heart instantly filled with gain-and-loss worries. As for Gu Yue, Chen Qiye felt that over these months, Gu Yue's gaze toward him had grown increasingly strange, but otherwise things were fairly normal.

Translation: "The little girl's heart instantly became filled with gain-and-loss worries. As for Gu Yue, Chen Qiye felt that over these months Gu Yue's gaze toward him had grown increasingly strange, but otherwise things were still normal."

"What are your plans for the vacation?"

Translation: "\"What are your plans for the vacation? \""

Huo Yuhao saw that only a few of them remained in the classroom and asked.

Translation: "Huo Yuhao saw that only a few of them remained in the classroom and asked."

Chen Qiye differs from Huo Yuhao; after all, his home is inside the academy's inner courtyard, so he won't feel lonely or desolate.

Translation: "Chen Qiye differs from Huo Yuhao; after all, his home is inside the academy's inner court, so he won't feel lonely or desolate."

But to say he feels nothing at all is impossible; after spending so much time together, people inevitably develop feelings.

Translation: "But to say he feels nothing at all is impossible; after people interact for a long time, they inevitably develop feelings."

Chen Qiye also felt reluctant, though he didn't show it on his face...

Translation: "Chen Qiye also felt reluctant inside, he just didn't show it on his face..."

"I plan to go home for a visit; I miss my mother's cooking." Xiao Xiao said full of anticipation.

Use "Xiao Xiao" as the translation for the name.

She didn't know Huo Yuhao's situation, so saying that wasn't really her fault; though the speaker meant no harm, the listener took it to heart, and Huo Yuhao's expression visibly darkened.

Translation: "She didn't know Huo Yuhao's situation, so saying that isn't really her fault. Though the speaker meant nothing by it, the listener took it to heart, and Huo Yuhao's expression visibly darkened."

"I also want to go home." Wang Dong looked at Chen Qiye with a wistful gaze and spoke slowly.

Translation: "\"I also want to go home. \" Wang Dong looked at Chen Qiye with a deep gaze and said slowly."

Today she was no longer her usual lively self, becoming unusually subdued; the intense reluctance seemed to choke her throat, and she barely kept her voice from trembling.

Translation: "Today she was no longer her usual lively self, becoming unusually gloomy; that intense reluctance seemed to choke her throat, and she barely kept her voice from sounding choked back."

Gu Yue's words were like gold, only two words: "Home..."

Translation: "Gu Yue's words were like gold, only two words: \"Going home... \""

"…………"

Again just dots.

There wasn't much to pack, after all, all four of their belongings were in their storage soul tools.

Translation: "There's nothing much to pack, after all, the four of them keep their belongings in storage soul tools."

At the school gate, Xiao Xiao had already left, and Huo Yuhao had departed early.

Translation: "At the school gate now, Xiao Xiao had already left, and Huo Yuhao had departed early."

And Gu Yue only gave Chen Qiye a greeting before he left.

Translation: "As for Gu Yue, she only gave Chen Qiye a greeting before he left."

Thus, only Chen Qiye and Wang Dong remained here.

Translation: "Thus, only Chen Qiye and Wang Dong remained here."

"I'm leaving too; won't you see me off?" Wang Dong seemed to have reverted to her usual girlish self, her big eyes filled with countless thoughts as she looked at Chen Qiye complexly.

Translation: "\"I'm leaving too, won't you see me off? \" Wang Dong seemed to have reverted to her little-girl self, her big eyes filled with countless thoughts, looking at Chen Qiye complexly."

She kept telling herself not to think of him, lest he laugh at her, yet she couldn't help saying it out loud.

Translation: "She kept telling herself in her heart not to think of him, lest he laugh at her, yet she uncontrollably said it out loud."

"What are you saying all this for—could it be that you've fallen for him?"

We need to keep the quotation marks as they are? The source uses 【 】 which are Chinese quotation marks. We'll translate to English quotes? Usually we keep as English quotes. We'll translate content: "\"What are you saying this for? Could it be that you've fallen for him? \""

"Hah, impossible—he's such a jerk, always bullying me without saying anything; plus, he's surrounded by so many girls, just thinking about it makes me angry!"

Translation: "\"Hmph, impossible. With a jerk like him, he's always bullying me without saying anything; the key is that he's surrounded by so many girls—just thinking about it makes me angry! \""

Wang Dong's mind seemed to be flooded with countless voices trying to dispel this thought, yet her reluctance only grew stronger.

Translation: "In Wang Dong's heart, countless voices seemed to surge, trying to make her dismiss that thought, yet the feeling of reluctance seemed to grow ever stronger."

"At your age, what are you sending? Isn't this already seeing you to the school gate?"

Translation: "\"How old are you to still be seeing someone off? We've already walked to the school gate. \""

Seeing Wang Dong's face flush red then pale, Chen Qiye felt amused.

Translation: "Seeing Wang Dong's little face flush then pale, Chen Qiye felt amused."

"I was just saying that; who would even want you to see me off?"

Translation: "\"I was just saying it; who would care if you see me off? \""

The girl gave a light spit, turned and ran out, but as she turned her head, her eyes were a little wet.

"Ah." Chen Qiye let out a soft sigh; after Wang Dong's figure had completely vanished from sight, he walked out of the academy gate and headed toward the north gate of Shileke Cheng.

He still had an extremely important matter to do…

………

Upon arriving at the north gate, Chen Qiye saw two familiar people: one had a fiery figure and wore a red outfit; the other wore white clothing, her skin fair, like a fairy descending from the heavens.

Chen Qiye greeted them, "Le Xuan sister, Xiao Tao sister."

Chen Qiye's destination this trip was the same as Huo Yuhao's—both were the far northern lands.

The goal of this trip for Chen Qiye was to obtain a soul ring for the Separated Sword by hunting an ice-attribute soul beast over 50,000 years old.

Group: 681263581 (End of chapter)