Seeing Dean Zhao's resolute attitude, the Bishop could only leave helplessly.
In truth, he also knew very well that Skywater Academy, which advocated the Extreme Flow, could indeed provide better cultivation resources for ice- and water-type Soul Masters.
Meanwhile.
While Shui Bing'er and the others were resting, Xiao Han chatted with them.
"I might be leaving Skywater City soon. It'll be even harder to see you all after that."
"What a pity. If you were a girl, you could stay at the academy with us."
Xiao Han lowered his head, a mischievous grin on his face.
"How about cutting it off?"
"Eek, what are you talking about? That's so disgusting."
The girls immediately blushed furiously.
Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo stood on either side of him and fiercely poked Xiao Han's head with their fingers.
"What exactly is inside that little head of yours?"
Lin Zhiruo did not allow Xiao Han to enter Skywater Academy whenever he pleased, but he would sneak in whenever he got the chance.
Yu Hairou was nine, and Gu Qingbo was eight. They had known Xiao Han relatively early on. Though they had not met many times, they were quite close.
As they played around, Lin Zhiruo walked over.
"Hello, Dean Lin!"
Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo immediately restrained themselves and obediently stood beside Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.
Lin Zhiruo looked at Shui Yue'er and smiled.
"From now on, you are also a member of Skywater Academy. Cultivate diligently."
"Yes, Dean Lin. I'll work hard."
Lin Zhiruo nodded and turned her gaze toward Xiao Han.
"Xiao Han, come with me."
Xiao Han looked reluctantly at the four girls before him.
"Goodbye, sisters."
"Goodbye, Xiao Han."
Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo were also somewhat reluctant to see him go.
Watching Xiao Han's gradually receding figure, Shui Yue'er said, "Sister, although this is my first time meeting Xiao Han, he seems pretty interesting."
"Mm, he's just a little improper."
Lin Zhiruo walked ahead, with Xiao Han following closely behind.
"Mom, where are we going? Home?"
"To the dean's office."
"What for?"
"You'll find out when we get there."
The two soon arrived at Dean Zhao's office.
"Hello, Dean Zhao."
"Xiao Han, you're here."
Dean Zhao had set aside her usual majesty and looked like a kind old grandmother.
"Xiao Han, do you truly want to stay and study at our academy?"
"Of course! Is that possible?"
Dean Zhao nodded.
"We discussed whether to accept you, and in the end, we decided to make an exception and keep you here."
"Really?"
Xiao Han was somewhat excited. He turned and glanced at Lin Zhiruo, who nodded at him.
"It's true, you brat. You got your wish."
"Yay! That's wonderful! Mom, I really can't bear to leave you."
Dean Zhao chuckled.
"Xiao Han, you'll be enrolled in name at our academy. If you can join the academy team in the future, you can be a substitute."
"Absolutely no problem!"
Xiao Han knew the academy was doing this to minimize the impact of admitting him, since he was a boy after all.
"Xiao Han, let me make this clear in advance. Once you come to the academy, you must cultivate properly. You can't be as naughty as before. Otherwise, I'll still send you away. No one will be able to protect you."
"Got it, Mom. Oh, right, my Soul Power has already reached level ten. I can go hunt Soul Beasts now, right?"
"What's the rush? I'll take you."
"Shui Bing'er's Soul Power has also broken through level ten."
"Has it?"
"Mm, she only broke through today."
Dean Zhao and Lin Zhiruo exchanged smiles, both deeply gratified.
"That child Bing'er is not only extraordinarily talented, but also intelligent and diligent. Her temperament is steady as well. Her future achievements will certainly not be beneath yours or mine."
"Mm, I think highly of her too."
"Zhiruo, once you've arranged their enrollment, take the two of them to the Ice Sealed Forest to hunt Soul Beasts together."
"Alright, that was exactly my intention."
Xiao Han was greatly looking forward to his upcoming First Soul Ring.
After dinner, Lin Zhiruo came to Xiao Han's room.
Starting tomorrow, Xiao Han would be living at the academy.
"Xiao Han, have you packed everything?"
"Mm, it's all packed."
"These are two things your parents left behind. Now that you've become a Soul Master, you'll happen to have use for both."
As Lin Zhiruo spoke, she handed the box in her hands to Xiao Han.
Xiao Han eagerly took it and opened it.
There were two items inside the box.
One looked like a belt and emitted a faint chill.
The other was a short sword, around thirty centimeters long, also emitting a chill.
"Mom, is this a Soul Tool for storing things?"
"Mm. It's called Snow Domain Soul Silk. It has a large storage space and can even store living creatures. Try it."
"Alright."
Xiao Han fastened the Snow Domain Soul Silk around his waist and immediately felt a refreshing coolness.
He then put several items inside and took them back out to test it.
"It's pretty useful."
After saying that, Xiao Han casually picked up the short sword and drew it from its sheath.
The blade was as thin as an ice crystal, and its dazzling cold gleam immediately made him unable to open his eyes.
"This short sword was forged from Ice Marrow and Cold Iron. It is incomparably sharp and can cut through gold and stone."
"It truly is a fine sword."
Lin Zhiruo nodded, her eyes slightly red.
Xiao Han joked, "Mom, I'm going to live at the academy tomorrow. Are you reluctant to let me go?"
"It'll be better once you're gone. I have no idea how peaceful it'll be with me alone."
"Then why are you crying?"
Lin Zhiruo sighed.
"These two items were originally the first birthday gifts your parents prepared for you. Unfortunately, they..."
Xiao Han had no memories of his parents in this life. Everything he knew about them had come from Lin Zhiruo.
"Mom, I've grown up now, and I may even become a powerful Soul Master in the future. Can you finally tell me how my parents died?"
Lin Zhiruo nodded.
"It's time to tell you. Your parents' group of ten encountered an incredibly ferocious Soul Beast in the Ice Sealed Forest. Apart from one agility-type Soul Master with Flight Ability who escaped, the other nine all died in that Soul Beast's jaws."
"What kind of Soul Beast was it?"
"According to the survivor, it was a giant, pure-black tiger over eight meters long. Though the Soul Beast was enormous, it was incredibly fast. That person did not have time to see its full appearance before fleeing the scene."
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