Chapter 27: We Will Meet Again
The sun set in the west, painting the sky with an orange-red glow.
The outlines of Nuoding Academy's buildings were softened.
Tang San had just returned from his blacksmithing work.
He was about to wash up when Zhao Liuyun called out to him, and the skipping Xiao Wu was also summoned.
"I'm leaving," he told them his intention to depart.
As his words fell, Tang San and Xiao Wu both showed surprised expressions, but Xiao Wu was the first to react.
"What did you say!"
Xiao Wu's eyes widened, and her words came out in a rush.
"You're graduating early? Why so sudden?"
Xiao Wu had long been accustomed to falling asleep to the Moon Secluded Epiphyllum's floral fragrance.
She never expected Zhao Liuyun to say he was graduating early.
Yes, becoming a One-Ring Spirit Master fulfilled the graduation requirements.
Graduating early was understandable, but what about them, who had grown accustomed to the floral fragrance?
Zhao Liuyun merely nodded gently: "At Nuoding Academy, I can no longer learn anything."
[general experience: 9098]
The general experience increased from 4917 before Spirit Hunting to 9098 now, a total gain of 4181 points.
Of this large amount of general experience, aside from the extra 20% gained from various Professional Experience through Ingenious Ideas, more than half was accumulated through his diligent study and hard work!
"You..." Xiao Wu still wanted to say something.
Zhao Liuyun calmly said: "I've finished reading all the books in the Library."
"All of them?" Tang San was stunned.
Zhao Liuyun nodded: "All of them!"
"Spirit Beast illustrations, biographies, travel notes, anecdotes, records of mountains and rivers, and even local customs and traditions!"
He looked at them with gentle eyes: "I'm also reluctant to leave you, but there's nothing I can do; the Academy truly can't teach me anything more."
Only Grandmaster was an exception.
Yu Xiaogang's writings, needless to say, were purely misleading.
But the materials and ancient texts he possessed came from Spirit Halland the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, all carefully selected, and would surely provide ample general experience.
The only pity was that Grandmaster would never hand over his collected materials.
Even with Tang San's help, it wouldn't work.
Moreover, Zhao Liuyun didn't want to get involved with Yu Xiaogang.
As for—
Stealing?
Not to mention it wouldn't count as general experience, did they really think Tang Hao was joking?
Even if he likely wouldn't intervene, Zhao Liuyun was unwilling to take such a risk.
It's just books and materials, where aren't they available?
Those with great ambitions must remember that it is never wise to lose sight of the bigger picture for minor gains.
"Have you... chosen an Intermediate Academy to go to?" Tang San was also reluctant to part with the floral fragrance that aided cultivation.
But seeing Zhao Liuyun's determined gaze, he extinguished the thought of trying to persuade him.
Geniuses have their own personalities, let alone someone with such a resolute character?
The decisions he made were not easily swayed by ordinary people!
Zhao Liuyun's lips curved slightly:
"I'm not going to an Intermediate Academy. My martial uncle said only mediocre people go there."
"I'm going to Soul Hunting Town for training, and after becoming a Spirit Grandmaster, I'll head to Heaven Dou City."
"To Heaven Dou City?"
"Ah, that's the imperial capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, a place where heroes gather." Zhao Liuyun's eyes burned with fervent light, and he spoke passionately, "I'm going to directly join a powerful Advanced Spirit Master Academy!"
The anticipation was real, but the Academy was secondary.
The focus was on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, a treasure trove!
Getting the 'Compendium of Medicines' from Tang San, besides refining poisons for self-defense in the early stages, the most important thing was the Immortal Herb.
physique transformation, talent leap, mental surge... everything Zhao Liuyun hoped for was there.
"Are you really leaving?" Xiao Wu looked a bit teary-eyed, as if truly reluctant to part.
She was indeed a person of strong emotions, showing her true feelings at this moment.
Zhao Liuyun nodded and sighed softly: "Sister Xiao Wu, there's no banquet that doesn't end, but our fate isn't over yet."
"You and Tang San are both extraordinary. Nuoding Academy, this shallow pool, cannot hold true dragons. One day, you will step onto a broader stage."
"And Heaven Dou City is the imperial capital of the Empire, shining with stars, a place all geniuses must visit."
After speaking, Zhao Liuyun paused, then looked up, envisioning the future: "We will meet again!"
"I only hope that by then, we can still laugh side by side."
As long as you don't know what I've done in secret, we will, of course, still be friends.
"Of course, we'll always be friends." Tang San stepped forward and gave him a firm hug.
Xiao Wu's nose was slightly red, and she also wanted to step forward for a hug.
"Oh no, this won't do, this really won't do." Zhao Liuyun quickly sidestepped, only high-fiving Xiao Wu.
He nudged Tang San, "A gentleman doesn't take what others cherish."
Steady development was best; he didn't want to court disaster prematurely.
"She's just my younger sister." Tang San's face flushed with embarrassment.
Xiao Wu raised her hand and delivered an elbow strike, causing Tang San to stumble half a step.
Zhao Liuyun took in this small gesture, his gaze sweeping over the beds that had been pushed together since their enrollment, and said sincerely: "I believe you, Tang San."
As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into laughter.
For a moment, the room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
The faint sadness that had permeated due to the impending separation was also somewhat dispersed by this laughter.
Tang San, slightly embarrassed, quickly washed up and rushed to Grandmaster's dormitory.
His uneasy demeanor did not escape Yu Xiaogang's eyes.
"Little San, what happened?"
Tang San recounted Zhao Liuyun's future plans in detail, unexpectedly receiving praise.
"Intermediate Academies are indeed only for the mediocre. I wouldn't let you go to an Intermediate Academy either, but Heaven Dou City isn't the only option."
Yu Xiaogang's words were extremely confident: "I have another Academy to recommend to you here."
"What?" Tang San was pleasantly surprised.
Since it was personally recommended by the teacher whose theories were unrivaled, it must be extraordinary.
It must have its unique merits.
Yu Xiaogang said: "Shrek Academy, located outside Soto City in the Balak Kingdom."
"This is an Advanced Spirit Master Academy that only accepts 'monsters' who can become Spirit Grandmasters before the age of twelve, not ordinary Spirit Masters."
"Your classmate Zhao Liuyun has decent cultivation talent; you might as well inform him."
Tang San kept it in mind, and as soon as he returned to the dormitory, he eagerly brought it up to Zhao Liuyun.
"Grandmaster recommended me to Shrek Academy?" Zhao Liuyunalmost thought he misheard.
Tang San's eyes still held respect for his teacher:
"That's right, it's a monster Academy that only accepts 'monsters' who become Spirit Grandmasters before the age of twelve, not ordinary Spirit Masters. As long as you meet the requirements, you can go and register."
"Thank you for your suggestion, I will seriously consider it." Zhao Liuyun's heart twitched, but he still said it calmly.
Consider my ass!
Forty geniuses enrolled, more than twenty died, and only fourteen graduated... a survival rate of 35%!
Even a battlefield wasn't this absurd.
Only a lunatic or an idiot would go.
Zhao Liuyun didn't think he was that stupid.
Time flew by quickly, and almost in the blink of an eye, it was the end of the academic year.
Enrolled at level 6, graduated at level 14.
After one year and eleven months of cultivation, it was time to say goodbye.
In front of the school gate, Zhao Liuyun stopped, turned around, and waved to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and the other Work-Study Students who were seeing him off.
"This is as far as you need to go, I must leave." He gently reminded them, "I hope that even without the aid of the floral fragrance, you won't forget to diligently cultivate and become independent Spirit Masters soon."
This was a blessing for everyone.
"Goodbye..." Xiao Wu wiped her reddened eyes.
"Liuyun, take care." Tang San clasped his fists and said in a deep voice.
They were special.
Zhao Liuyun looked at them, his smile deepening:
"Tang San, Sister Xiao Wu, cultivate diligently."
"When we meet again, don't let me surpass you in spirit power level!"
With that, he turned sharply, his robes fluttering, and never looked back.
He only rested for a day at Huichun Hall, receiving earnest teachings from his teacher Bai Hong.
Then Zhao Liuyun went to Spirit Hall.
Spirit Master certification had naturally been done the moment he acquired his spirit ring.
In this regard, he was like Tang San; who would refuse free gold coin?
This trip was for nothing else but to bid farewell to Su Yuntao.
After parting with Su Yuntao, Zhao Liuyun went alone to the grave of the old man who adopted him, arranged offerings, and poured two cups of wine.
The mountain wind swept through the forest, blowing his fringe.
After a long while, Zhao Liuyun softly said:
"Old man, I'm leaving!"
His figure gradually faded into the distance, just as he had left the Academy, free and unrestrained, without a hint of hesitation.
Zhao Liuyun returned home, took his treasured gold coin, then packed the refined poisons in the Medical Hall, and once again boarded the carriage bound for Soul Hunting Town.