Indulging in deep thought for too long wasn't their style. After looking at the Star Dou Great Forest and reflecting on their own thoughts, the two set off on their journey once more.
"Not in a good mood?"
Walking through the Star Dou Great Forest, Yu Yan looked at the silent Xiao Wu and took the initiative to start a conversation.
"Yeah, a little bit."
While answering Yu Yan's inquiry, Xiao Wu couldn't help but complain in her heart. This blunt, completely undisguised way of asking was simply too foolish.
"Well, when I was looking at the Star Dou Great Forest just now, I was marveling at its grandeur. When I peeked at your expression, I noticed your emotions were quite complex. Can you tell me specifically why?"
After thinking for a moment, Yu Yan continued the conversation. He hoped Xiao Wu could be a bit happier, and he also hoped she would be honest about her identity. That would make many things much more convenient.
Additionally, Yu Yan actually wanted to reach the Lake of Life in the center of the Star Dou Great Forest through Xiao Wu.
The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had so many Immortal Herbs and treasures; Yu Yan absolutely didn't believe that the Lake of Life, another of the world's three great treasure-gathering lands, would have nothing good.
"It's nothing. Just looking at the Star Dou Great Forest, I suddenly thought about your views on hunting Spirit Beasts that you mentioned before, and I couldn't help but feel emotional." Xiao Wu, not yet ready to discuss that matter, composed her emotions and looked at Yu Yan, asking, "Are we going to attend school at the Exotic Beast Academy?"
Their destination was the Exotic Beast Academy. Combined with the attitude of the academy's recruitment teacher, Xiao Wu felt that as long as the Exotic Beast Academy wasn't too ridiculous, there was a high probability Yu Yan would agree to join.
"When the time comes, I'll talk to the teachers at the Exotic Beast Academy first and see what the specific situation is before deciding."
Yu Yan's answer was the same as when they left Balak City... Over a month later, in the afternoon, after a leisurely journey of playing and sightseeing, Yu Yan and Xiao Wu finally arrived at their destination: Ice Soul City, located on the Ice Soul Grassland of the Hagendas Kingdom. The Exotic Beast Academy was situated in the center of this city.
Ice Soul City was established because of the Exotic Beast Academy, which was why the academy enjoyed the status of being located in the city center.
According to the information Yu Yan gathered from the black market, the reason the Exotic Beast Academy chose to be built on the Ice Soul Grassland was because the grassland produced a rare flower called the ice soul flower.
The ice soul flower was a magical flower that, after being absorbed, could significantly increase one's Spirit Power Level. In the black market, it was in a state where a single flower was hard to find, and even with money, there was no supply.
The information from the black market intelligence broker showed that there was a small nursery for ice soul flowers in the core area of the Exotic Beast Academy, which was the most important place in the entire academy.
Generally, high-level academies had their own unique features. Shrek Academy was a bit too abstract to be considered a normal academy.
"The environment here is quite nice."
Standing outside Ice Soul City and looking at the surrounding environment, Yu Yan nodded with satisfaction.
To the north and south of Ice Soul City were endless grasslands, the kind described in poems where the sky is vast, the wilds are boundless, and the wind blows the grass low to reveal the cattle and sheep.
The huge lake to the east looked somewhat like the Sayram Lake Yu Yan had seen with his own eyes. More than ten different shades of blue shone under the sunlight, looking absolutely beautiful.
To the west were several continuous large mountains. At the foot of the mountains was a lush and green forest of unique trees, while the peaks were covered in un-melted snow and ice.
"Indeed, speaking only of the environment, this place is truly excellent."
Xiao Wu's gaze was fixed on the Ice Soul Lake next to Ice Soul City. Her look was very similar to the one Yu Yan had when he first saw Sayram Lake.
Because he understood, Yu Yan didn't rush Xiao Wu. He just stood there quietly, waiting for her to finish looking at the Ice Soul Lake.
When Xiao Wu snapped out of it, Yu Yan said, "Let's enter the city," and took the lead, walking toward Ice Soul City.
Following the address left by Gu Yingying, Yu Yan found a detached small courtyard with its gates tightly shut. After standing before the gate and thinking for a moment, realizing it was Wednesday and not a holiday, Yu Yan took Xiao Wu to the main gate of the Exotic Beast Academy in the center of the city.
At the entrance of the Exotic Beast Academy, there were over a dozen stone carvings of various Beast Spirits. In front of the stone monuments, there were also some statues of people, with simple introductions on the stone tablets beside them.
Yu Yan looked at the text on the nearest tablet and understood that these were all powerful experts who had graduated from the Exotic Beast Academy.
Inside the Exotic Beast Academy, when Gu Yingying heard the guard's report that a child named Yu Yan had come to find her, she immediately stood up in excitement. After her Martial Soul Possession, she rushed to the school gate at her fastest speed.
These were two true geniuses. If they could be recruited into the Exotic Beast Academy, the academy would definitely achieve quite good results in the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament after the next one.
The All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament was held every five years, and the next one was about to begin. Yu Yan and Xiao Wu's Spirit Power Levels were not high enough to participate in this one; naturally, they would participate in the one after that.
Arriving at the school gate, Gu Yingying saw Yu Yan standing there looking at the statues and tablets, with Xiao Wu standing beside him.
"Yu Yan, Xiao Wu, you really came!"
"No, no, no, that's not right. I should say, welcome to the Exotic Beast Academy."
Seeing them with her own eyes and confirming they had truly come, Gu Yingying excitedly waved her hand to greet them.
"Teacher Gu Yingying, Xiao Wu and I haven't decided whether to join the Exotic Beast Academy yet. We came here because I promised you that if we didn't choose Balak Academy, we would come to the Exotic Beast Academy to take a look."
To avoid any potential awkwardness later, Yu Yan spoke his mind directly ahead of time.
"It's fine, it's fine. It doesn't matter whether you join or not. Shall we go inside and chat?"
After waving her hand dismissively, Gu Yingying invited Yu Yan and Xiao Wu into the Exotic Beast Academy.
Gu Yingying truly didn't mind whether Yu Yan and Xiao Wu would join the Exotic Beast Academy. Being able to invite them and have them consider the academy was already the best she could do.
Besides, the fact that Yu Yan and Xiao Wu appeared here and asked to see her was already a good sign, wasn't it?
As long as the academy leaders didn't lose their minds, there was a high probability this matter would succeed.
The campus environment of the Exotic Beast Academy was excellent, with very complete facilities and an unprecedentedly large library.
In addition to the buildings that high-level Spirit Master academies should have, perhaps because it was the Exotic Beast Academy, Yu Yan also saw many gentle Spirit Beasts within the campus. They walked leisurely through the academy, completely unbothered by the passing students and teachers. Some bolder, gentle Spirit Beasts would even run up to students and teachers to interact with them.
This scene of peaceful coexistence between humans and Spirit Beasts left Yu Yan momentarily speechless, while it gave Xiao Wu a much better impression of the academy.