Early Graduation
Yu Xiaogang paused for a moment, then looked up at Tang San.
"Graduating early? What grade are you in now?"
Twenty-Seventh Rank.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in them.
"Twenty-Seventh Rank? Weren't you level 18 when you left? You leveled up nine times in a year?"
"Yes." Tang San nodded.
Yu Xiaogang was silent for a moment, then sighed, "It would be a waste for your talent to stay at the Nuoding Academy. I'll talk to the academic affairs office for you; with your level, graduating early shouldn't be a problem."
"Thank you, teacher." Tang San bowed slightly.
Yu Xiaogang put down his pen, stood up, and walked to Tang San.
His steps were much lighter than before, his waist swaying slightly, the hem of his robe swaying gently with each step. He reached out and patted Tang San's shoulder, the movement much gentler than before.
Yu Xiaogang said, "With your current strength, going to an ordinary intermediate-level Soul Master Academy is pointless. I suggest you go to the Shrek Academy."
"Shrek Academy?" Tang San feigned ignorance.
Yu Xiaogang nodded, took a map from his desk, spread it out in front of Tang San, and pointed to a location on the map.
"Shrek Academy is located in Suotuo City. Although it's not very famous, its teaching philosophy and admission standards are quite unique. It only accepts monsters, not ordinary people. Every student there is exceptionally talented. With your talent, you can only truly unleash your potential there."
Tang San looked at the mark on the map and already understood. "Teacher is right, I'll consider it."
Seeing that Tang San did not refuse, Yu Xiaogang smiled with relief, "You should set off as soon as possible, don't delay. Shrek Academy has a limited enrollment period each year, if you miss it you'll have to wait another year."
"Okay, teacher." Tang San nodded.
As Tang San emerged from Yu Xiaogang's room, he let out a long sigh of relief, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
He walked quickly down the stairs to the first floor and headed to the Academic Affairs Office with Xiao Wu.
They soon arrived at the Academic Affairs Office, and when Tang San and Xiao Wu reported their Soul Power Levels, Director Su quickly approved their graduation requests.
After leaving the academic affairs office, Tang San and Xiao Wu walked side by side on the playground of the Nuoding Academy.
Xiao Wu suddenly spoke up, "Third Brother, where are we going now?"
Tang San thought for a moment and said, "Let's find a place to stay first."
"Stay here? Aren't you going back to the dorm?"
"We've already graduated, why would we go back to the dorm?" Tang San rolled his eyes at her.
Xiao Wu thought about it and felt that Tang San's words made sense.
"Where shall we stay?"
"Buy a house."
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.
Buy a house? Do you have the money?
Tang San smiled, did not answer, and turned to walk towards the academy gate.
Nuoding City wasn't very big. Tang San in Xiao Wu, quickly found a courtyard house they liked in a secluded spot in the city.
The courtyard wasn't large, but it was well-laid out, with three main rooms, two rooms each in the east and west wings, and a fairly spacious courtyard. An old locust tree stood in the courtyard, its canopy providing ample shade, which should have been very cool in the summer.
The landlord asked for 500 Gold Soul Coins, and Tang San paid the money without haggling.
Xiao Wu stood in the courtyard, a big smile curving her lips.
"Third Brother, this house is huge!"
Do you like it?
"I like it." Xiao Wu nodded, then turned to look at Tang San, "Third Brother, will we be living here from now on?"
"Um."
"So, does that mean we're... living together?"
Tang San paused for a moment, then reached out and flicked Xiao Wu's forehead.
"What are you thinking, you little kid?"
Xiao Wu covered her forehead and glared at Tang San.
"I'm not a little kid! I'm eight and a half years old!"
Tang San looked at her rosy cheeks and couldn't help but smile.
"Alright, alright, you're a grown woman!"
Xiao Wu snorted and skipped into the main room, beginning to examine each room.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
Tang San took a deep breath, a sense of peace he had never felt before welling up inside him.
Unbeknownst to Tang San, Yu Xiaogang believed that Tang San had already gone to Suotuo City, so he packed his things the next day and left Nuoding City for Suotuo City.
One year later, in a small town on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A boy and a girl walked in side by side from the entrance of town. The boy had broad shoulders and a straight back. Although his face still had a bit of a childish look, he was already over 1.7 meters tall. The girl had long scorpion braids, was nimble, and was nearly 1.5 meters tall. Her eyes were bright and lively.
It was Tang San and Xiao Wu.
Nine-and-a-half-year-old Tang San had grown taller than a year ago. His physical development far surpassed that of his peers, and he already looked like a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy standing in a crowd. Xiao Wu walked beside Tang San, and she had also grown quite a bit taller than a year ago. Her figure was more slender, and her features had matured. She had lost some of her baby fat and gained more of a girlish beauty.
The two found an inn in the town and stayed there. The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Tang San and Xiao Wu left the town and headed towards the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Star Dou Great Forest is located in the south-central part of the continent, covering a vast area spanning several provinces. It is the largest gathering place for Soul Beasts on the Douluo Continent. The edge of the forest is a wide buffer zone with sparse trees and plenty of sunlight. The deeper you go, the denser the trees become, the darker the light becomes, and the higher the level of the Soul Beasts.
Tang San came this time for his Third Soul Ring. In one year, Tang San's Soul Power broke through from Twenty-Seventh Rank to level 30.
Over the past year, Tang San cultivated while consuming Whale Rubber to strengthen his physique. He did not take the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew for the time being, planning to use it when he broke through to level 40. He also did not rush to consume the immortal Immortal Herbs Tang San had his eye on, but instead followed his memories from his previous life, waiting until his body had fully adapted before using them gradually.
Xiao Wu walked along the path ahead, her steps light and quick, almost like dancing. Her gaze swept over the surrounding trees and bushes, a smile playing on her lips; she seemed much more Shi Xing.
"Third Brother, hurry up!" Xiao Wu turned around and called out to Tang San.
Tang San quickened his pace and walked to her side. "Why are you so happy today?"
Xiao Wu's ears twitched, and she said with a smile, "No, it's just that the air in the forest is so fresh and pleasant to smell."
Tang San knew why Xiao Wu was excited; this was the Star Dou Great Forest, her former home. Returning to a familiar place naturally made her happy.
Little did Xiao Wu know that Tang San already knew her identity, and this little girl was still keeping it from him.
However, Tang San also planned to formally confess to her.
The two continued deeper into the forest. Tang San activated his Blue Silver Grass's perception ability to the fullest extent, and nothing within a radius of several hundred meters could escape his senses.
With Xiao Wu as their guide, the two had a clear goal: to find a gathering area of Soul Beasts at the border between the millennium Soul Beast area and the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast area.
The two walked for about two days, and the surrounding trees had become very dense.
Xiao Wu suddenly stopped, listened intently for a moment, and then turned and walked in another direction.
"Third Brother, over here," Xiao Wu said.
Tang San followed behind her. Xiao Wu led the way, avoiding several areas with obvious powerful Soul Beast auras, and took a big detour to arrive at a relatively open forest clearing.
From a distance, a strange plant grows in the center of the open space.
It was a grass-like plant about the height of two people, with emerald green leaves covered with fine golden veins.
The entire plant exudes a gentle yet profound energy fluctuation, an energy that is not as violent as that of an aggressive Soul Beast, but rather as warm and peaceful as the spring sunshine.