Walking along the main avenue, Xu Zihuang immersed his focus into his spiritual sea.
This time, the Skydream Iceworm wasn't behaving as jumpy as before. Instead, it mobilized its vast spiritual power, probing in the direction of that flower shop from earlier.
Xu Zihuang asked doubtfully: "Skydream Iceworm, what is it?"
In his view, there shouldn't be anything in that flower shop worth such attention. Among those flowers, only the Ink Snow Princess he held in his hand could count as a ten-year plant-type soul beast. The rest were nothing more than ordinary ornamental plants.
"My senses were right after all." The Iceworm's usually lazy voice grew uncharacteristically serious.
"Zihuang, that senior you just met, Qin, has a terrifying accumulation of poison within her body. This poison should originate from her martial soul. Moreover, it has been passed down through bloodline inheritance, growing more intense with each generation. Even in the extreme north where I once lived, few soul beast species could resist such poison. As for you humans, even less so. For safety's sake, you'd best keep your distance from her. I don't want to die so soon!"
"A poison-attribute martial soul?" Xu Zihuang frowned slightly.
Seeing Xu Zihuang's apparent interest, the Iceworm became smug, seizing the rare chance to show off.
"It should be a beast-type poison martial soul. Only when you humans with beast souls use Martial Soul Possession does the poison of the martial soul seep into your body as well."
"Hm? That Ink Orchid in your hand actually evolved into a plant-type soul beast. What a pity its age is too low. If it were a ten-thousand-year Ink Orchid, consuming its petals would have greatly boosted your spiritual power." Only now did the Iceworm notice the Ink Snow Princess in Xu Zihuang's hand. But seeing Xu Zihuang still deep in thought, its tone suddenly turned more earnest.
"Zihuang, I'm only reminding you. I'm not trying to interfere."
"I know. We're bound together now—one prospers, both prosper; one suffers, both suffer. Even just for your sake, I won't recklessly take risks." Xu Zihuang gathered his thoughts, smiling as he replied.
"I've always valued my life, you know that."
"Heh, as long as you know." The Iceworm was very pleased with his answer.
"Then I'll go back to sleep. I should be out for about a year this time. Our fusion earlier drained too much of my spiritual origin."
Through this brief exchange, their relationship quietly drew closer.
While conversing with the Iceworm in his spiritual sea, Xu Zihuang had already returned to Shrek City's east gate.
Tuoba Yu was standing just outside. Seeing Xu Zihuang, the two greeted each other and headed back to the dormitory together.
It had to be said, Tuoba Yu's manner was already quite mature compared to their peers.
Even such small details easily left a good impression.
Soul masters usually replaced sleep with meditation, and the two were no exception. After washing up, they each sat cross-legged on their beds, entering cultivation.
Though their personalities differed in many ways, they were unusually alike in diligence.
The night passed swiftly.
Morning light spilled over the black-violet petals of the Ink Snow Princess, brimming with vitality—just like the bustling new dormitory.
Today was the official first day of classes at Shrek Academy.
Though the dormitory had good soundproofing, the whole building shook with activity. Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu ended their meditation at the same time.
Unlike Xu Zihuang's tranquil state of mind, Tuoba Yu still carried some anticipation for the start of classes.
He had already heard from the seniors in charge of admissions that their Class Nine had the highest proportion of female students among all ten new classes.
"Tuoba Yu, I suggest you learn to control your facial expressions when thinking about such things." Xu Zihuang patted his shoulder, then went to his wardrobe and took out a set of white uniforms.
Not understanding at first, Tuoba Yu went to his own wardrobe, only to freeze at the sight of his lecherous grin in the mirror. His smile stiffened immediately.
Glancing again at Xu Zihuang—whose noble aura could not be hidden even in standard uniform—he had to admit, some things could not be envied.
—
On the third floor of the new students' building, in a private office, a beautiful woman of about twenty-eight sat smugly behind her desk.
On her desk lay an opened, ornate letter.
Stamped in gold were two characters: Dragon City.
Beside it was another certificate, which read:
Name: Yu Tianhuang
Martial Soul: Golden Pupils
Soul Power: Rank 31
Background: …
This female teacher could only be described as young and alluring, her faint smile carrying the charm unique to her age.
"Four Soul Elders among the freshmen, and two of them are in my class. Zhou Yi, let's see how you compete with me this time."
"Teacher Mu, class is about to start." Before long, a young female teacher, barely twenty, called softly from the doorway.
She was the homeroom teacher of Class Ten next door, and a graduate of Shrek Academy's outer court from the previous year.
The one she called "Teacher Mu" was Mu Jin, Xu Zihuang's Class Nine homeroom teacher.
"Coming." Mu Jin smiled, locked the letter away, and picked up her prepared lesson plan with both hands as she left the office.
The two walked side by side toward their classes.
Mu Jin, basking in her triumph, stepped briskly in crystal heels, the sharp clack of her shoes echoing down the hall.
Meanwhile, Xu Zihuang and Tuoba Yu arrived at Class Nine's door just as the bell rang.
Though they had left the dorm with nearly half an hour to spare, they had lingered over the academy's finest breakfast in the dining hall, prepared fresh to guarantee quality. It had cost some extra time.
Of course, Xu Zihuang had paid, returning Tuoba Yu's earlier favor.
Stepping in first, Tuoba Yu froze at the sight of the large classroom already filled—and over seventy percent of the students were lovely young women.
At last, he understood the senior's words.
But rather than daring to enjoy it, he panicked. With the few remaining seats all beside girls, he stalled awkwardly in the doorway, unable to decide.
"What are you blocking the door for?" Xu Zihuang asked dryly, patting his back.
Though the classroom doorway was wide, Xu Zihuang did not bother to slip past. It was a habit ingrained from his etiquette lessons in the Sun Moon Empire's palace.
As a prince's son—favored more even than his elder brother and Cai Tou thanks to his father's bond with the former emperor—he had never needed to yield to anyone.
Tuoba Yu stepped forward instinctively, revealing Xu Zihuang.
At once, the class's attention fixed on them.
The moment they saw Xu Zihuang's face, the classroom erupted in noise.
Many students whispered among themselves.
Most of the girls gazed at him kindly and warmly, but the few boys stared with open hostility.
Xu Zihuang's outstanding looks and noble air drew too much attention. Naturally, envy followed.
After all, at their age, what boy didn't want to be the one in the spotlight?
Just then, a gentle yet authoritative voice came from behind them.
"Are you blocking the door to welcome me? Hurry and find a seat! Late on the first day?"
Seeing the woman with lesson plan in hand, it wasn't hard to guess this was their teacher.
At once, the noise in the classroom died down. Tuoba Yu ducked his head and hurried to a seat.
As freshmen, awe of teachers came naturally.
Xu Zihuang, however, remained calm. His eyes swept the room until he spotted an empty seat in the center, closest to the door. Without hesitation, he walked over.
By coincidence, the seat beside it was occupied by Nanmen Yun'er, whom he had met yesterday. Her light-green hair stood out brightly against her white uniform.
Xu Zihuang offered her a warm smile.
"We meet again, Nanmen. You don't mind if I sit here, do you?"
"Of course not." Nanmen Yun'er nodded gracefully, a stunning smile lighting her face.
Behind them, Tuoba Yu saw this and tried imitating Xu Zihuang's manner toward the pretty girl beside him.
But in return he got only a disdainful eye-roll. That girl sat proudly, chin lifted in clear scorn.
Damn!
What did I do wrong?
Stung, Tuoba Yu rubbed his white short hair in embarrassment.