Chapter 67: Eight Months Later, Setting Off for the Extreme North!
Three days later, at high noon.
Outside the East Gate of Shrek Academy.
"Finally back!"
Wu Ming stretched lazily toward the azure sky and the familiar academy buildings, her full curves fully revealed under the sunlight. "The air in the academy still smells the most comfortable! My nerves were stretched to the breaking point during these past few days in the Star Dou Great Forest!"
Chu Qingtian looked at the familiar surroundings with a smile on his face. He glanced at Lin Xuan, Han Ruoruo, and Ma Xiaotao, who were walking side by side, and suggested, "We've been through life and death together this time; it's a rare camaraderie! Why don't we go find a place in the city to gather and have a meal? My treat! Consider it a celebration of everyone's safe return and our success in obtaining Soul Rings!"
However, his proposal was immediately met with a crisp and decisive refusal from the three women in unison.
"Not going!" Wu Ming rubbed her slightly dark circles and gave a huge yawn. "I'm exhausted from these past few days. Right now, I just want to fly back to the dormitory, dive onto my bed, and sleep until I don't know what day it is!"
Han Ruoruo shook her head gently, her gaze falling tenderly on Lin Xuan. "There's no rush for a meal. Although Junior Lin Xuan doesn't show it on the surface, he overexerted himself too much this time and absorbed Soul Rings one after another. It's hard to guarantee there aren't hidden injuries. He must go find a Teacher from the healing department for a careful check-up immediately; we can't leave any hidden dangers."
Ma Xiaotao was concise, her tone cold. "Cultivating."
Chu Qingtian was stunned by this uniform rejection, his expression instantly collapsing as he muttered, "No way... giving me no face at all..."
Seeing this, Lin Xuan reached out and patted Chu Qingtian's shoulder lightly. "They have their considerations, but I actually am a bit hungry."
"I know an old-brand beef noodle shop in the north of the city; the taste is very authentic. Want to go together?"
He had only said this to Chu Qingtian to comfort him.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Wu Ming, who had just been clamoring to go back and sleep, had her eyes light up instantly. She immediately changed her tune, "That shop! I know it! Their chili oil is especially fragrant! Wait for me, I'm going too! Sleeping on an empty stomach is indeed bad for the body!"
Han Ruoruo was also slightly startled, her cheeks then turning slightly red as she said softly, "Thinking about it carefully... timely nutritional replenishment is indeed helpful for recovery, and the medical check-up isn't urgent for this moment..."
"I, I'll go along too."
Chu Qingtian looked at Wu Ming and Han Ruoruo, who had defected in an instant, his mouth slightly agape, completely bewildered.
He pointed at Wu Ming, then at Senior Han, his face full of disbelief. "Wait... Sister Wu Ming, Senior Han, you two... I invited you and you wouldn't go, but Brother Lin Xuan didn't even invite you and you're actively following along? This double standard is too obvious! You can't do this!"
He complained indignantly, finally casting a hopeful gaze toward the only person who hadn't spoken yet—and the one he thought least likely to join such a crowd—Ma Xiaotao.
"Senior Xiaotao, you... you shouldn't be going, right?"
However, Ma Xiaotao only gave him a faint glance. "What?"
"I can't eat?"
Chu Qingtian: "..."
The expression on his face froze instantly, then collapsed bit by bit, finally turning into a long sigh as he covered his face with his hand.
"Fine... treat it as if I never asked."
The sunlight was just right at this moment, reflecting the young figures and the ancient gates of the academy.
Lin Xuan couldn't help but smile knowingly at the scene before him.
This scene... really felt a bit like his previous life after high school finished for the day, with a few friends noisily discussing where to go eat.
He felt a bit... nostalgic.
However, nostalgia aside, if he were truly given a chance to return to those youthful days submerged in test papers and exams...
Heh, not even a dog would go back.
Has it not been said that time flies like a galloping horse, and days and months pass like falling flowers and flowing water?
In the blink of an eye, eight months of time had quietly slipped through his fingers.
The first academic year of Shrek Academy's Outer Academy had officially come to an end. Following it was the month-long vacation that all students had been eagerly anticipating.
Inside the Class 1 classroom.
The Teacher, Mu Jin, closed the lesson plan in her hand. Her gaze swept over the young, expectant faces below. With her usual seriousness, she cleared her throat. "Although the semester has ended, the path of cultivation never stops. Vacation is not for you to relax and play, but for overtaking on the curves! I hope you all arrange your time reasonably and do not waste your days."
After a round of routine exhortations, she finally said the words the students most wanted to hear, "Now, I announce that this semester has officially ended. Let the vacation begin!"
"Yeah—!!!"
"Vacation's here!!!"
--
In an instant, the originally quiet classroom was completely submerged by deafening cheers.
Since the classes were divided by Martial Soul Department types, Wu Feng and Dugu Qing were still in the same class as Lin Xuan.
Dugu Qing briskly packed his things and approached Lin Xuan, asking curiously, "Lin Xuan, the vacation is so long, what do you plan to do?"
Not far away, Wu Feng, who was organizing her books, unconsciously slowed down her movements, her ears quietly perking up.
Lin Xuan put his few books into his storage soul tool and replied casually, "I plan to find a suitable place to gain some experience."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it caused several nearby students who had been intentionally or unintentionally paying attention to him to fall silent. They all turned their heads to look at him, faces full of bewilderment.
No way, big brother?! You're already a Spirit Ancestor! This is only the end of the first year! Is it necessary to be this driven?!
If even a freak like Lin Xuan was going to use the vacation for experience, if they really just played for a month, wouldn't they be scolded into idiocy by Teacher Mu Jin when they returned next semester?
Dugu Qing was also stunned for a moment, then scratched his head and chuckled, "As expected of you. Then I can't be too slack either."
Lin Xuan nodded to them as a farewell. "See you next semester."
With that, he didn't linger. He walked straight through the still-boisterous crowd, left the classroom, and headed outside the academy.
Inside the Spiritual Sea, the long-impatient Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was so excited it was almost rolling around. "Finally! Finally, this day has come! The semester is over! My highlight moment is coming! Quick, quick, quick! Lin Xuan! Let's set off! Destination: Extreme North!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm was overjoyed, wishing it could tilt its chin up to the sky.
Over the past six months or so, watching Lin Xuan survive danger after danger while his strength soared, it felt like it had spent most of its time sleeping, aside from occasionally providing some emotional value.
Although the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm didn't think there was anything wrong with that, it was also afraid!
Afraid that Lin Xuan would think this Million-Year Soul Beast was just a good-looking but useless mascot!
Now, the critical moment to prove its value had finally arrived!
As long as they reached the Extreme North and found the Ice Empress—hehehe, I must make Lin Xuan understand just how reliable and useful I am!
"Keep it down."
Lin Xuan's head throbbed slightly from the noisy voice in his mind. "Am I not already walking out?"
He walked through the familiar campus paths toward the East Gate.
Just as he left the teaching area and reached the main road leading to the school gate, he suddenly heard someone call his name.
"Lin Xuan!"
The voice was crisp and somewhat familiar.
Lin Xuan looked toward the sound and saw three people standing not far away: Bei Bei, Tang Ya, and Huo Yuhao.
It was Tang Ya who had called him.
The girl was as lively as ever, a bright smile on her face as she waved at him.
Bei Bei stood beside her, his temperament as gentle as jade, also nodding with a smile.
Huo Yuhao, however, stood slightly behind the two with his head lowered, not saying a word and appearing somewhat somber.
Lin Xuan nodded to the three of them as a greeting.
Tang Ya blinked curiously and asked, "Lin Xuan, are you preparing to go home?"
"No," Lin Xuan shook his head. "Going out to find a place to gain some experience."
Hearing this, Bei Bei couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. "As expected... it's not the high talent of others that's scary, but that those with high talent work ten times harder than you. Junior Lin Xuan, you're putting a lot of pressure on us seniors."
Lin Xuan gave a noncommittal smile, then asked, "What about you?"
Tang Ya patted Huo Yuhao's shoulder and explained, "We're planning to buy some suitable equipment for Little Yu Hao. I intend to take him out for some experience during the vacation and also properly master some of our Tang Sect's secret techniques."
Hearing this, Lin Xuan's gaze fell on Huo Yuhao once more.
Huo Yuhao seemed to sense his gaze; his head dropped even lower, and his fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of his clothes.
Lin Xuan hadn't paid special attention to Huo Yuhao's specific situation in the academy over these past few months. The academy was large, they had only met a handful of times, and even then, they usually just passed each other in silence.
He nodded and didn't ask further. "Then I wish you a smooth experience. I'll be going now."
"Mhm, you take care too!" Tang Ya waved with a smile.
Bei Bei also nodded. "Take care."
Lin Xuan said no more and walked straight out of the East Gate. After finding a deserted spot, he directly released his Shikigami, soared into the sky, and flew toward the north.
Blessing.
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