A year flashed by.
Su Wen's milk tea shop was booming. The flagship store's business leveled off, so he opened several branches around the city. Although profit per cup dropped to five copper soul coins, he pushed revenue back up through sheer volume.
During breaks from her studies, Jiang Nannan also came to help. Wearing a convenience-store-style uniform with light makeup and a naturally elegant look, she relied on her outstanding looks to earn the nickname "Milk Tea Beauty," bringing waves of traffic to the flagship.
The Treasures Pavilion's influence also gradually flowed into the milk tea business and began taking over operations. Su Wen and Elder Lin had long agreed on a 70-30 split: the academy would take a 30% management fee; Su Wen would be a hands-off owner, lying back to receive the other 70%.
…
Inside the Golden Treehouse.
Su Wen slowly exhaled a long, turbid breath.
He felt the golden core circulating within him, like a spiritual energy pump, flowing through all his meridians and completing a cycle.
"Level 38 peak—just one step from 39." Feeling the abundant soul power within, Su Wen murmured.
Less than a year, nearly seven levels gained, and still within the Soul Elder realm—he was leveling like drinking water. After all, even top talents like Dai Huabin and Ning Tian would struggle to gain a single level in a few months at the Soul Elder stage.
Of course, it also owed to his monk-like lifestyle and, after getting rich, the cultivation stacked from his three soul pets devouring flesh and blood.
"The start of the term…"
Su Wen stood up and pushed open the wooden window. The full view of Shrek's outer court spread before him. Most eye-catching was a vast, empty field—the Shrek Plaza. Behind it were the white, yellow, purple, and black teaching buildings for first, second to third, and fourth to fifth, and sixth-year students, respectively. Farther out were the dorms.
At the moment, he could vaguely see several hundred people gathered beneath the white freshmen's building—noise boiling over, the sound almost carrying to him. Mostly parents were there with children registering.
"Roar!"
A low growl came from an ancient tree outside the window. Gale clung to the trunk, face full of excitement.
"It's crowded at the freshmen building today. Don't run around." Su Wen closed the window calmly.
"Roar…" Gale drooped his head and listlessly swung off to another tree.
Walking along the outskirts of Sea God Island, feeling the salty, damp sea breeze on his face.
Su Wen narrowed his eyes.
If he wasn't mistaken, the main plot would likely kick off in the next two days. A small boy would walk out of the Duke's Mansion with firm resolve, taking the first step to defy fate. According to Jiang Nannan, Bei Bei and Tang Ya would leave the academy today to help Tang Ya obtain her third soul ring.
And that would be the first step in Yuhao's rise.
Although he was indifferent about the Skydream Iceworm—he wasn't a spiritual-type soul master, so it likely wouldn't choose him—Electrolux had to be drawn in. Whether for power or the treasure-trove-like breadth of his knowledge, the death mage was enticing to Su Wen.
"Dean Yan?"
Su Wen looked up in surprise, seeing the handsome old gentleman not far away.
"Hehe, Xiao Wen, have you decided which faculty to join?" Yan Shaozhe smiled broadly, even with a faint hint of flattery.
"Martial Soul Department. Don't worry, I won't get poached by Soul Tool. I'm heading to Star Dou Great Forest now—no need to follow…" Su Wen's mouth twitched. He waved and left Yan Shaozhe a rakish back view.
"All according to plan~" Yan Shaozhe's lips curled.
Only after Su Wen vanished did he happily head toward the Martial Soul teaching building. He needed to find Du Weilun and give some reminders. The person was secured, but who knew what dirty tricks the other side might pull—hard to guard against.
…
At the same time.
Duke's Mansion.
A grand estate of red brick and white walls. From an inconspicuous back gate darted a thin figure. The boy looked back at the Duke's residence, resentment filling his eyes. He turned, kowtowed hard, and whispered so only he could hear: "Mother, from now on I take the surname Huo—Huo Yuhao!"
He then set off without looking back toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
…
Outside Shrek Academy.
Two eye-catching figures drew many looks. A handsome young man and a pretty girl. The boy wore an outer court uniform, with deep-blue short hair. His handsome, dashing face radiated youthful vigor, and his tall frame made many outer court girls—and even incoming freshmen—cast special glances.
The girl had a long ponytail, delicate and lively. She clung to Bei Bei's arm to declare ownership.
In her other hand, she held a cup of milk tea. After a satisfied sip, she held it up to Bei Bei. He, with a doting look, didn't refuse to share the same straw.
"Strawberry flavor~" Tang Ya's beautiful eyes curved into ripples of happiness.
"Mm…"
Bei Bei patted the girl's hair, about to speak, when his smile slowly faded. His light-blue pupils fixed on a boy not far away.
"Su Wen?"
A trace of doubt flashed across his face.
He had naturally heard of the boy's reputation in the inner court—monstrously gifted. Recently, in the arena, he soloed a Soul King, beating him black and blue, crushing him across two levels.
Most terrifying of all—he was only eleven.
An eleven-year-old Soul Elder.
Su Wen had no grudge with him, but the youth's invisible aura alone could press many people to the point of breathlessness—like facing a razor-edged ten-thousand-year soul beast. You knew it wouldn't kill you, yet the invisible pressure was always there…
"Bei Bei?"
Sensing Bei Bei's oddness, Tang Ya grew nervous and followed his gaze curiously.
A handsome-faced boy with a sunny smile.
"What's wrong? Spacing out?" Tang Ya waved her hand in front of Bei Bei's eyes.
"It's nothing…"
Bei Bei relaxed a bit. He was being too sensitive.
"Hey, little brother, a friend of yours?" Tang Ya stepped up and pinched Su Wen's cheek. Her eyes lit up. "Very handsome. How come I've never seen you before? Are you a new outer court freshman? Today's registration day."
"Don't—" Bei Bei's pupils shrank.
His back went cold. He was about to stop her. He knew how terrifying this youth was. If he truly got angry, Tang Ya, a peak Rank-30 Soul Grandmaster, wouldn't withstand even a single hit—neither would he.
"…"
Su Wen's face twitched. He expressionlessly brushed off Tang Ya's hand.
If not for the fact that Tang Ya and Bei Bei would encounter Yuhao on the road, he wouldn't have approached. The outer ring of the Star Dou was too vast—finding someone alone would be unlikely. And tailing the two would seem too creepy. Better to be straightforward and travel together.
Seeing Su Wen wasn't angry, Bei Bei quietly sighed in relief.
He hurriedly pulled Tang Ya behind him and, with polite respect, asked, "Ahem, Su Wen, did you need something?"
"You're going to the Star Dou to hunt a soul beast?" Su Wen smiled.
"Yes. Xiao Ya will break through to Soul Elder in a few days, so…" Bei Bei froze, unsure how Su Wen knew.
"Perfect. Me too. Let's go together."
PS: Not breaking up Bei Bei and Tang Ya; they're still canon couple.
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