A Year

Second Dimension Academy, within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

"It's almost been a year! Why hasn't Han Gege woken up yet?" Honjou Kaede asked worriedly.

No one had expected that nearly a year would pass since Ye Han sat down cross-legged, yet he still had not awakened.

During that time, Zhao Lei and Dugu Bo had both come to check on him. In the end, they found that there was nothing wrong with Ye Han; his body was even extremely healthy. That put everyone somewhat at ease.

"That brat has delayed me for nearly two years already. When he wakes up, I'm definitely going to beat him up!" Although Esdeath spoke harshly, her expression still showed her concern for Ye Han.

The others also came to check on Ye Han after every training session.

The academy had also undergone earth-shaking changes over the past year. The first was that Honjou Kaede had reached Level 7 in pharmacy.

The reason she had improved so quickly was that she constantly brewed potions, grinding up her potion count. After all, Honjou Kaede was already Level 30 and had no need to cultivate Soul Power, so she had devoted all her energy to potions instead.

Because Honjou Kaede had unexpectedly leveled up, Dugu Bo's body had also been nursed back to health. Not only had the poison in his body been completely cleared out, but the damage he had accumulated over the years had also been resolved through potions Honjou Kaede brewed with Immortal Herbs.

Rejuvenated, Dugu Bo broke through directly and became a Level 93 Titled Douluo.

The academy's teachers had also all leveled up thanks to the Soul Power Ye Han had distributed before. The greatest gain was probably Zhao Lei, who had risen from Level 96 to Level 97.

One had to know that after Level 95, every level among Titled Douluo was a difference as vast as heaven and earth. Level 97 was far stronger than Level 96.

With time to spare, Honjou Kaede had also brewed Immortal Herb potions suited to everyone. However, they were all stuck at Level 30, and drinking them now would cause them to waste most of the medicinal effects.

Over the past year, Dugu Bo had finally come to understand just how crazy these little monsters before him were. Even without Ye Han, Esdeath and the others still trained in combat at set times every day.

Only then did Dugu Bo understand what Zhao Lei had meant back then. In the end, he could not take it anymore and simply ran away under the excuse of visiting his granddaughter.

That afternoon, everyone came to Ye Han's side as usual.

Crack!

The faint sound instantly silenced everyone who had been talking.

Bang!

A transparent shell-like layer fell from Ye Han's body. Ye Han, who had remained cross-legged the entire time, finally made another movement.

"That felt amazing!" Ye Han stretched lazily, then saw six pairs of eyes staring at him. "W-what?"

With tears in her eyes, Honjou Kaede said, "Han Gege, you're finally awake!"

Only then did Ye Han realize something was wrong. Honjou Kaede and the others before him seemed to have suddenly grown taller, and their figures had improved too. That was definitely not something that could happen in just a few days.

He instinctively stood up and looked at his now-too-small clothes and long hair. A bad feeling rose in his heart.

"Could it be that a long time has passed?" Ye Han asked uncertainly.

Yoruichi cut off Honjou Kaede before she could speak, walked to Ye Han's side, and said, "Ten years have already passed, Xiao Han. You've finally awakened!"

Yoruichi's words struck like a bolt from the blue. What did ten years mean? That was when Spirit Hall would make its move, and he was only Level 30!

He slumped to the ground in despair, his mind going blank. It felt as though all the effort he had spent planning for so long had gone to waste.

"Damn system, this is all your fault!"

Please use your brain, Host. Thank you.

Hearing the system's words, Ye Han immediately came to his senses. Looking again at Yoruichi, who was holding back her laughter, he understood what was going on.

"Sister Yoruichi, how long has it actually been? I feel like you're messing with me!" Ye Han said irritably.

Yoruichi did not hide it at all and leaned right in. Yoruichi was no longer a child, and her figure was downright unfair. Ye Han unconsciously swallowed and turned his head away.

"Oho! You're getting shy now? Who was the one mocking me when we were little?" Yoruichi teased.

Ye Han understood that getting any information out of Yoruichi was unlikely. He turned toward Todo, who had become taller and sturdier, and said emotionally, "Best Friend! How long has it been? Have you been well during the days I was gone?"

Sure enough, once the mood was set, Todo immediately threw his arms around Ye Han. "Best Friend! Without you for this past year, it feels like I've lost so much joy! I couldn't find anyone like-minded at the academy!"

Todo's words made Ye Han breathe a sigh of relief. If only one year had passed, then he was now twelve, and Tang San had only just joined Shrek Academy. There was still plenty of time.

Moreover, he had taken so long because he had continuously tempered his body and compressed his Soul Power.

Ye Han's physical condition now fully qualified him to be a close-combat archer! After all, an archer who could not fight in close combat was not a good archer!

"Wait! You said you couldn't find anyone like-minded at the academy?" Ye Han, who had been thinking about what came next, suddenly caught this terrifying piece of information.

"That's right! Only you, Best Friend, acknowledge me!"

Ye Han mechanically turned his head toward Lia and the others, asking in disbelief, "I remember Todo asked everyone back then! So the person he asked this time couldn't have been..."

"That's right, it was Senior Dugu. Senior Dugu thought Todo was making fun of him, so Todo received special attention from Senior Dugu during every practical battle," Lia explained calmly.

Ye Han could already picture Todo standing before Dugu Bo with that inexplicable confidence and loudly asking, "What kind of woman do you like?"

"Xiao Han, you've delayed me for a long time. Get up. I'll loosen your bones for you!" Once everyone had finished catching up, a voice slowly sounded.

Ye Han's expression froze as he looked at Esdeath's frost-covered face. It felt as though even the air around him had frozen.

"Hehe! Sorry, sorry!" Ye Han laughed awkwardly.

"Oh my! Don't look at Esdeath acting like this now. When Xiao Han hadn't woken up, she was very worried!" Kurumi's words filled Ye Han's face with surprise.

Esdeath's face reddened, and she immediately snapped in embarrassment, "I was only worried that he would affect my training progress!"

Everyone noisily bickered, but in the end, Ye Han still could not escape a battle with Esdeath.

In that battle, Ye Han completely became a close-combat archer. Wielding his Noble Phantasm, he confronted Esdeath head-on. Unfortunately, he still lost by a narrow margin in the end.

Over the next few days, Ye Han constantly familiarized himself with his new strength and resumed his training. After more than a month, he finally adapted.

"Uncle Zhao! Let's go to the Star Dou Great Forest next week and obtain Soul Rings!" Ye Han said with a smile as he arrived at Zhao Lei's residence.

Zhao Lei nodded. Ye Han and the others had indeed been delayed for quite some time.

"Going to obtain Soul Rings? Can this old man bring two people along?" Dugu Bo, who happened to be passing by, interjected after hearing Ye Han.

Ye Han grinned and asked teasingly, "Are you sure it's only two people?"

"What do you mean, brat? You just woke up and already want a beating?"

Having had his thoughts exposed, Dugu Bo became angry out of embarrassment.

Ye Han was not afraid of him. The moment he opened his mouth, he became a master of sarcasm. "Looks like Yu Tianheng has made you very happy this past year!"

Dugu Bo's old face reddened. Strictly speaking, Yu Tianheng had not done much for Dugu Bo. It was just that over the past year, Dugu Bo had discovered that Yu Tianheng truly treated Dugu Yan well, so he had tacitly approved of their relationship.

"Just say whether you'll bring us or not! If you won't, can't I go by myself?" Dugu Bo said angrily.

Seeing that Dugu Bo was truly angry, Ye Han promptly stopped while he was ahead. "Of course I'll bring you. Why wouldn't I? It'll be a good chance to show your grandson-in-law what a genius is!"

This time, Dugu Bo did not refute him. Although Ye Han still did not have his third Soul Ring, Yu Tianheng was already nineteen and only Level 40. He simply could not compare to the twelve-year-old Level 30 Ye Han before him.

"Hmph! I'll go to the academy and bring Yan Yan and the others over first. You arrange the rooms!" Dugu Bo quickly left.

Ye Han merely shrugged and went to inform Lia and the others. In any case, they had the Soul Ring Release Device. As long as they found Soul Beasts of suitable age, that would be enough.

Meanwhile, Dugu Bo swiftly arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. To be honest, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would send someone to help Yu Tianheng obtain a Soul Ring, while Dugu Yan could go herself.

Why did they have to follow Ye Han? Mainly because Dugu Bo felt that Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng could learn something from Ye Han. He also wanted them to know that there were plenty of people more talented than themselves.

"Your Excellency Poison Douluo!" Upon arriving at the training grounds, Qin Ming was the first to notice him and quickly bowed respectfully.

During this year at Second Dimension Academy, perhaps because he had spent more time with Zhao Lei, Dugu Bo no longer cared much for all those formalities.

He casually waved a hand and walked straight toward Dugu Yan.

"Yan Yan! Grandpa came to see you! Did you miss Grandpa?" Dugu Bo asked with a smile.

Dugu Yan was also very happy to see her grandfather. Especially since the poison issue had been resolved, Dugu Bo had become younger and had more time to spend with her.

"Grandpa! You come once a month now, much more often than before! But I still miss you a lot!" Dugu Yan said with a smile.

After chatting for a while, Dugu Bo looked around. "Where's that brat Yu Tianheng?"

"It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan thinks Yu Tianheng shouldn't delay any longer and wants to take him to obtain his Soul Ring. But because of what you said, Grandpa, Tianheng has been waiting," Dugu Yan said softly.

Dugu Bo nodded in satisfaction. At least that brat Yu Tianheng still listened to him. Otherwise, Dugu Bo would not have felt at ease entrusting Dugu Yan to him.