A Token of Thanks, a New Journey

The next day, dawn had barely broken.

Han Yuchen was already sitting cross-legged on his bed, having completed his daily Star Tempering routine.

He felt refreshed all over, as though he had just soaked in a hot bath.

His Soul Power had become a little purer again.

Not bad. Another day brimming with energy.

Just as he was about to get out of bed, someone knocked on the dormitory door.

Knock, knock, knock.

The sound was soft and polite.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were both still asleep.

Who was it this early in the morning? Were people not allowed to sleep in anymore?

Han Yuchen went to open the door.

With a creak, the door opened.

A pretty little girl stood outside.

She wore a pale yellow dress and had her hair tied into two horn-like braids.

It was Ma Xiunuo's precious granddaughter, Sisi.

Well, the little delivery girl was starting work pretty early.

Han Yuchen inwardly laughed.

It seemed that old man Ma Xiunuo really was in a hurry.

When Sisi saw that Han Yuchen had opened the door, her little face instantly turned red.

She nervously held both hands behind her back. Her gaze shifted about, and she did not dare meet Han Yuchen's eyes.

Her expression was a mixture of reverence, curiosity, and an indescribable shyness.

Heh, this little brat.

She had been so loud and boisterous yesterday. Why was she like a completely different person today?

What exactly had that old man told her?

Did he make me sound like some kind of savior?

The commotion from Sisi's arrival still woke Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Tang San sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes.

When he saw who was standing at the door, he froze slightly.

The granddaughter of the Spirit Hall Master?

Why was she looking for Brother Han again?

Xiao Wu's reaction was far more direct.

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, she sprang out of bed and darted to Han Yuchen's side in a few strides.

With her hands on her hips and cheeks puffed out, she watched Sisi warily.

She looked exactly like a little rabbit guarding its food.

"Hey, what are you here to see the Sickly Child for again?"

Xiao Wu's tone was dripping with jealousy.

Sickly Child?

Hearing that name, Sisi frowned.

She gathered her courage, raised her head, and glared at Xiao Wu.

"You're not allowed to call him that!"

Oh? She was even defending him now.

Han Yuchen stroked his chin, finding this situation increasingly interesting.

Ignoring the bristling Xiao Wu, Sisi took a palm-sized wooden box from behind her back and presented it to Han Yuchen with both hands.

The box was made of rosewood and exquisitely crafted.

"My grandfather asked me to give this to you."

Her voice was soft, and she sounded a little nervous.

"He said... this is what you deserve."

"He also said that Nuoding Spirit Hall owes you a favor."

The moment those words came out, Tang San's pupils sharply contracted.

A favor from Nuoding Spirit Hall!

That carried far too much weight!

Brother Han... what exactly did he do?

Xiao Wu was stunned as well, temporarily forgetting to bicker with Sisi.

Han Yuchen, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm.

He reached out and accepted the wooden box. It felt slightly heavy in his hand.

"Thank Hall Master Ma Xiunuo for me."

His tone was indifferent, as if he had merely received an ordinary delivery.

That calm composure made little stars seem to sparkle in Sisi's eyes.

So cool!

He was not excited at all over a favor from Spirit Hall!

Having completed her task, she should have left.

Yet her feet seemed rooted to the ground, unable to move.

She fidgeted for a long while, her cheeks growing redder and redder. Finally, in a voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz, she said softly,

"Hey, Sickly Child... no, Han Yuchen..."

"Thank you. I don't know what you did, but Grandpa said you helped us with an enormous problem."

"From now on... you're my... Sisi's friend!"

After saying that, it was as though she had used up all her strength. She turned around and ran away.

She fled as if wolves were chasing her.

Watching her retreating figure, Han Yuchen weighed the wooden box in his hand.

A friend?

Heh, little brat.

"Hmph!"

A heavy snort sounded beside him.

Xiao Wu leaned over, her nose nearly pointed at the sky.

"Sickly Child, not bad!"

"It's only been a few days, and you've already hooked up with the young lady of Spirit Hall?"

"What treasure did she bring you? Open it and let's see!"

This girl's curiosity was even stronger than her jealousy.

Han Yuchen could not be bothered to argue with her, so he casually opened the wooden box.

Click.

The lid opened.

A soothing fragrance of plants instantly spread through the room.

Tang San's nose twitched, and his gaze was immediately drawn over.

As a disciple of the Tang Sect, his sensitivity to Heavenly Treasures was ingrained in his bones.

Two items lay quietly within the box.

One was a small herb that was Emerald Green from stem to leaf.

Its leaves looked as if they had been carved from jade. Tiny droplets of dew clung to them, and it emitted a soft glow.

Condensing Jade Grass.

Han Yuchen recognized it at a glance.

Judging by its quality, it had to be at least five hundred years old.

It could cleanse the impurities within a Soul Master's body and strengthen their foundation. To low-level Soul Masters, it was a treasure they could only dream of.

That old man Ma Xiunuo really was generous.

The other item was a tattered piece of parchment.

The paper was yellowed, with burn marks along its edges.

A small section of a map had been drawn on it in strange symbols.

In one corner of the map, two words had been written in the common language of the Douluo Continent.

Star Dou.

It was here.

Han Yuchen's gaze sharpened slightly.

This was the true focus of the transaction.

Ma Xiunuo was returning the favor by using this method to tell him that the clue obtained from Supervisor Xiao pointed to the Star Dou Great Forest.

The old man was clever.

Just as Han Yuchen's finger touched the parchment—

A sudden change occurred!

Bzz—

A soft hum that only he could hear rang out from the depths of his soul.

The dormant Star Atlas suddenly lit up.

Within the atlas's starry backdrop were countless dim points of light.

At that moment, one of those points unexpectedly resonated faintly with an inconspicuous symbol on the parchment!

A thread-thin ray of starlight shot out from the atlas and connected to that symbol.

He had found it!

A clue to the next Soul Fragment!

This was an absolute jackpot!

He had only intended to use someone else's hand to kill an enemy and pick up a few benefits along the way.

Who would have thought he would stumble straight into the grand prize?

A storm had already risen in Han Yuchen's heart. He was so excited that he nearly wanted to pop champagne on the spot.

Yet his face still bore that same unruffled expression.

Without drawing attention, he put away the parchment.

That self-control made Tang San, who had been observing him from the side, admire him even more.

Even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, his expression would not change.

Brother Han's state of mind was far beyond that of ordinary people.

Han Yuchen picked up the Condensing Jade Grass, did not even look at it, and directly snapped off half before tossing it to Tang San.

"Little San, this is for you."

"You just absorbed a Soul Ring, and your foundation is still unstable. This will help you consolidate it."

"Huh? Brother Han, this is too precious. I can't accept it!"

Tang San was startled and hurriedly waved his hands in refusal.

This was a five-hundred-year spiritual herb, worth a fortune!

Han Yuchen raised an eyebrow.

"Take it."

"Why are you being polite with me?"

"Or do you think I need this thing?"

His tone allowed no argument.

Tang San looked into Han Yuchen's resolute eyes, then at the Condensing Jade Grass in his hand.

A warm current surged through his heart.

He no longer refused and nodded heavily.

"Alright! Thanks, Brother Han!"

He would remember this kindness.

Xiao Wu, standing beside them, pursed her lips.

Hmph, he sure was generous to his brother.

Her eyes darted around, and she grinned as she moved closer to Han Yuchen, holding out her little hand.

"Hey, Sickly Child, everyone who sees it gets a share. Where's mine?"

Han Yuchen glanced at her.

"You're a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Do you still need this?"

Boom!

Those words exploded in Xiao Wu's mind like thunder from the heavens.

The smile on her face instantly froze.

Her entire body stiffened in place, as though she had been hit by a immobilizing spell.

The color rapidly drained from her little face, leaving it deathly pale.

For the first time, terror and panic appeared in her lively, bright eyes.

How... how did he know?!

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Han Yuchen watched her frightened, stunned expression, a teasing curve tugging at his lips.

He reached out and lightly flicked Xiao Wu on the forehead.

"Just kidding, silly rabbit."

"Look how scared you are."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Xiao Wu standing there alone, her heart still pounding wildly.

For that brief instant, she had truly thought her identity had been exposed.

That feeling of having her very soul seen through was terrifying.

That Sickly Child...

Who exactly was he?

Xiao Wu watched Han Yuchen's retreating back, her gaze turning incomparably complicated.

Over the next few days, Han Yuchen prepared to leave.

There was no longer any reason for him to remain at Nuoding Academy.

His next destination was crystal clear.

The Star Dou Great Forest.

He would search for Soul Fragments and, while he was at it, get himself an awesome second soul ring.

He went to find Yu Xiaogang.

It was still that library piled full of old papers.

"Master, I'm preparing to leave the academy."

Han Yuchen got straight to the point.

Yu Xiaogang was studying an ancient tome. Hearing this, he looked up and adjusted his glasses.

He did not seem surprised.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes." Han Yuchen nodded.

"I feel like I'll break through to level twenty very soon. I want to go out and gain experience while searching for a suitable second soul ring."

This reason was flawless.

Yu Xiaogang fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"That's fine."

"A small pond like Nuoding City truly can't hold a dragon like you."

From among a pile of scrolls, he pulled out a map and handed it to Han Yuchen.

"This is a map of the outer regions of the Star Dou Great Forest that I drew in my early years. It isn't complete, but it should help you."

"Remember, Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are everywhere in the inner regions of the Star Dou Great Forest, and Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts are as common as dogs. Do not venture too deep. Be careful in all things."

"Thank you, Master."

Han Yuchen accepted the map and thanked him solemnly.

This bargain-bin teacher's theories might have been a little outdated, but he was still a decent person.

One week later, at dawn.

Han Yuchen packed his simple luggage.

In truth, there was not much to pack. Everything had been tossed into the Dimensional Space of the illustrated guide.

He stood at the academy gates as Tang San and Xiao Wu came to see him off.

Tang San's eyes were a little red.

"Brother Han, you have to take care of yourself!"

Xiao Wu stood to the side without saying anything, merely lowering her head, her mood somewhat downcast.

Han Yuchen smiled and patted Tang San on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. I won't die."

"And you too—don't focus only on practicing with that hammer of yours. Look around you more."

He meaningfully glanced at Xiao Wu.

Tang San froze, not understanding.

But Xiao Wu's cheeks quietly flushed red.

Han Yuchen said nothing more.

He turned around and waved.

"I'm off."

There was not the slightest hesitation.