What? You Want to Graduate?

A year later...

The morning bell at Nuoding Academy was no longer as urgent as it used to be. Instead, it carried a hint of the languor of the end of term.

Jiang Zhen walked calmly along the school path, blending into the crowd with steady steps. The Water Pattern on his cuff was darker than last year, yet it remained so understated that it looked like ordinary fabric.

Over the past year, his Soul Power had remained at Level 20.

He had broken through two months ago, but he had not chosen to obtain a Spirit Ring right away.

He planned to look for one around Vast Sea City.

After all, there would be more water-attributed Soul Beasts there.

He did not return to the dormitory. Instead, he headed straight for the principal's office.

The door was not fully closed, and the voices of the principal and the Director could be heard inside. They were discussing the results of this year's students. Whenever Tang San and Xiao Wu came up, their tones were filled with admiration.

Jiang Zhen raised his hand and knocked on the door. His voice was calm. "Principal, hello. I'd like to apply for graduation."

The conversation in the office stopped. The principal looked up at him and froze for a moment. "You're... Jiang Zhen? You've only been enrolled for a year. Why do you suddenly want to graduate?"

The Director beside him also frowned. "A Junior Spirit Master Academy requires at least two years of study, unless you've already obtained a Spirit Ring and met the graduation requirements."

Jiang Zhen did not explain further. He merely condensed a wisp of pale-blue Soul Power at his fingertips. Faintly wrapped within it was the aura of a water-attributed Spirit Ring—not ostentatious, but more than enough to prove his point.

As the principal, he knew that Jiang Zhen possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

He had privately sought Jiang Zhen out before and said he could help him obtain a Spirit Ring, but Jiang Zhen had always brushed him off.

The principal's eyes instantly widened. He reached up and adjusted his glasses. "You... you've already absorbed a Spirit Ring? How come I've never heard about it?"

As if I'd let you find out.

"It was just Luck was on my side, and I found a suitable Soul Beast." Jiang Zhen's tone remained flat.

"I've more or less mastered the theoretical knowledge required by the academy. There's little point in staying here."

The principal stared at him for several seconds. Seeing his resolute expression, he finally nodded. "Since you meet the requirements, I have no reason to refuse. This is your graduation certificate. Just sign it."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Jiang Zhen took the pen, swiftly signed his name, put away the certificate, and turned to leave.

The entire process took less than three minutes, without any unnecessary pleasantries.

"...There really isn't much to serve at my home. It's just a shabby house." It was Tang San's voice, carrying the gentleness of a young man along with a hint of helplessness.

"What are you afraid of? I'm not picky!" Xiao Wu's voice was clear, with a touch of coquettish stubbornness.

Tang San smiled helplessly. Xiao Wu hopped along beside him, her school uniform Skirt Hem swaying lightly.

"All right, then. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning. It'll take two hours on the road." Tang San's voice drifted over.

Xiao Wu cheered, reached out to pat Tang San on the shoulder, and the two of them chatted and laughed as they packed their things.

Before dawn had fully broken the next day, the morning mist in Nuoding City carried a hint of chill as it clung to the bluestone road, making it feel soft beneath one's feet.

Jiang Zhen stood beneath the Old Sophora Tree by the city gate. He looked toward the intersection in the distance, and soon saw two figures.

Tang San wore a school uniform washed pale from repeated use. Xiao Wu followed beside him, her braids swinging lightly. She clutched a freshly bought meat bun, biting into it until a smear of oil stained the Corner of the Mouth. Every so often, she tugged at Tang San's sleeve and said something that left him helplessly amused.

"Let's go, let's go! If we keep dawdling, the sun will be roasting our butts!" Xiao Wu swallowed the last bite of her bun and reached for Tang San's cloth bag, but Tang San nimbly dodged her.

The two of them left the city amid laughter and conversation, heading toward Holy Spirit Village. Their figures soon melted into the morning mist.

Jiang Zhen waited for roughly fifteen minutes after they left before setting off.

He did not take the Main Road Tang San and Xiao Wu had used. Instead, he took the forest paths and field ridges outside the city.

He knew Tang San's senses were sharper than those of ordinary people. He had to keep enough distance to avoid letting Tang San detect his presence.

He encountered few people along the way. Only a few farmers up early to work passed by with hoes over their shoulders. When they saw Jiang Zhen, they merely asked, "Where are you going?" Jiang Zhen vaguely replied, "Visiting relatives," then quickened his pace and moved away.

By the time he finally saw the outline of Holy Spirit Village, the sun had already risen fairly high.

The Old Sophora Tree at the village entrance was still lush and flourishing. Several children chased one another around beneath it, laughing and playing. Jiang Zhen went around the village and headed straight for the Back Mountain.

The vegetation in the Back Mountain was much denser than outside the city. Vines coiled around tree trunks, while sunlight filtered through gaps in the leaves and scattered mottled patches of light across the ground.

After walking for around half an hour, he heard the thunderous roar of a waterfall.

Jiang Zhen slowed his steps and pushed aside the Bushes in front of him. The view suddenly opened up—a waterfall plunged from a cliff more than a dozen zhang high into the pool below. The splashing water carried a cool mist that struck him in the face.

He did not hurry closer. Instead, he circled the pool first, carefully scanning the waterfall's flow. Unlike an ordinary waterfall, the water near the cliff face seemed somewhat "softer" than elsewhere, as though something were blocking it.

Only after confirming that no one was nearby did Jiang Zhen hurry to the cliff. He raised his hand and condensed a pale-blue Water Pattern in front of him, blocking the splashing water. Then he bent down and slipped into the Stone Cave.

Perhaps because of the waterfall outside, the cave was very dark. It stood about three meters high and two meters wide, stretching deep into the mountain.

Jiang Zhen took a Fire Starter from his Storage Ring, lit it, and held it in front of him to illuminate the inside of the Stone Cave.

When he reached the very end, everything around him suddenly brightened. Looking up, he saw a stone opening at the top of the cave wall. This place was a stone chamber of only about ten square meters.

There was no furniture in the chamber. It was completely empty. Yet directly beneath the stone opening above was a small mound of earth, and a slender sprig of Blue Silver Grass swayed in the breeze atop it.

The Blue Silver Grass looked somewhat longer than ordinary blades of grass. Most unusual of all were the fine golden patterns running across its leaves.

Jiang Zhen's breath caught slightly, and his grip tightened around the Fire Starter. There was no mistaking it—this was the Blue Silver Emperor.

It was even more conspicuous than he had imagined. That gentle fluctuation of Soul Power could be clearly sensed even from several steps away.

He slowly walked forward, crouched down, and lightly touched a leaf of the Blue Silver Emperor with his fingertips. The radiance flowing across the leaf swayed gently, as if responding to his touch.

He did not rush to act. Instead, he first inspected the surroundings of the Stone Cave. There were no traps and no traces of residual Soul Power. It seemed Tang Hao had not left any protection here.

Jiang Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, but he still did not dare to let his guard down. He took a prepared flowerpot from his Storage Ring and carefully transplanted the Blue Silver Emperor, roots and all.

Meanwhile, at Nuoding Academy.

Grandmaster was reading a book in his room.

Bang, bang, bang. Just then, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Grandmaster frowned slightly. Normally, no one but Tang San ever came to see him.

"Come in." Grandmaster set down the book in his hand and spoke indifferently.

The door opened, and a tall figure walked in from outside.

He wore a simple gray robe. His disheveled black hair fell over his shoulders, and his aged face was etched with the marks of time. His murky eyes made him look as though he were already in the twilight of his life, utterly at odds with his appearance, which suggested he was only around fifty.

"Hello, Grandmaster." The newcomer's voice was deep...