The Cause of His Parents' Deaths

Seeing Dean Zhao's resolute attitude, the Bishop could only leave helplessly.

In truth, he knew perfectly well that Skywater Academy, which championed the Extreme Flow, could indeed provide better cultivation resources for ice- and water-element 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 shame. If you were a girl, you could stay at the academy and keep us company."

Xiao Han looked down with a mischievous grin.

"Or should I cut it off?"

"Hey, what are you saying? That's so disgusting."

The girls instantly blushed furiously.

Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo stood on either side of Xiao Han, jabbing their fingers hard into his head.

"What exactly is inside that little head of yours?"

Lin Zhiruo did not allow Xiao Han to enter Skywater Academy freely, but whenever he had the chance, he would sneak in.

Yu Hairou was nine, and Gu Qingbo was eight. They had known Xiao Han for quite some time. Though they had not met often, they were quite close.

As they were fooling around, Lin Zhiruo walked over.

"Hello, Dean Lin!"

Yu Hairou and Gu Qingbo immediately composed 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, then turned her gaze to 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 retreating figure gradually disappear, Shui Yue'er said, "Sister, although today was my first time meeting Xiao Han, he seems pretty interesting."

"Mm, just a little improper."

Lin Zhiruo walked in front, with Xiao Han following closely behind.

"Mom, where are we going? Home?"

"To the dean's office."

"What for?"

"You'll know 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 dignity and looked like a kindly 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."

"Really?"

Xiao Han was somewhat excited. He turned to look at Lin Zhiruo, who nodded at him.

"It's true, brat. You got your wish."

"Yay! That's great! Mom, I really can't bear to leave you."

Dean Zhao chuckled.

"Xiao Han, you'll be enrolled in name only at our academy. If you can join the academy team in the future, you can serve as a Substitute."

"No problem at all!"

Xiao Han knew the academy was doing this to minimize the impact of admitting him, since he was a boy.

"Xiao Han, let me make this clear in advance. Once you come to the academy, you must cultivate properly. You can't be as mischievous as before. Otherwise, I'll still send you away, and no one will be able to protect you."

"I know, Mom. Oh, right, my Soul Power has already reached level ten. I can go hunt a soul beast now, right?"

"What's the rush? I'll take you."

"Shui Bing'er's Soul Power has also broken through to level ten."

"Really?"

"Mm, she only broke through today."

Dean Zhao and Lin Zhiruo exchanged a smile, deeply gratified.

"That child Bing'er is not only exceptionally talented, but also intelligent and eager to learn. Her temperament is steady as well. Her future achievements will certainly not be below 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."

"Alright, that was my intention as well."

Xiao Han looked 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."

"Here are two things your parents left behind. Now that you've become a Soul Master, you can make use of 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.

One looked like a belt and gave off a faint chill.

The other was a short sword about thirty centimeters long, also radiating cold air.

"Mom, is this a Soul Tool for storing things?"

"Mm. It's called the Snow Domain Soul Silk. It has a large storage space, and even living creatures can be stored inside. Try it."

"Alright."

Xiao Han fastened the Snow Domain Soul Silk around his waist and instantly felt a cool sensation.

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. 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 really is a fine sword."

Lin Zhiruo nodded, her eyes slightly reddened.

Xiao Han joked, "Mom, I'm going to live at the academy starting tomorrow. Are you reluctant to let me go?"

"It'll be better once you leave. I have no idea how much peace and quiet I'll have by myself."

"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'm grown up now, and I might become a powerful Soul Master in the future. You can tell me now, can't you? How exactly did my parents die?"

Lin Zhiruo nodded.

"It's time to tell you. Your parents were part of a group of ten that encountered an incredibly ferocious soul beast in the Ice Sealed Forest. Apart from one agility-attack Soul Master with Flight Ability who escaped, the other nine all died at the jaws of that soul beast."

"What kind of soul beast was it?"

"According to the survivor, it was a massive, jet-black tiger more than eight meters long. Though the soul beast was enormous, it was extremely fast. Before that person could clearly see its full appearance, he quickly fled the scene."