Only Natural

The end of the Freshman Competition meant that Zhou Huan's academy life would return to its usual routine of classes, dormitory, and library.

However, the day after the competition ended, Class One experienced a minor disturbance.

Huo Yuhao, who was still seen as extremely weak in many people's eyes, had been directly appointed class monitor, drawing dissatisfaction from some of the students—especially Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

They were promptly thrown out by the ever-dominant Zhou Yi, along with Huang Chutian, who had previously made a few flippant remarks. It couldn't be helped; since he hadn't been in Class One before, he had no idea what kind of person Zhou Yi was.

Fortunately for the three of them, two were Outer Court Core Disciples, while the other enjoyed Core Disciple treatment. Otherwise, they would have been expelled. Even so, they could no longer remain in Class One.

Zhou Huan could only shake his head in speechless disbelief. In the mind of someone like Zhou Yi, students probably had to obey without question.

Unlike in the original storyline, though, Wu Feng, that Little Fire Dragon, did not step forward to cause trouble for Huo Yuhao this time. During the Freshman Competition, she and her good friend Ning Tian had never encountered Huo Gua's team.

Thus, there was no conflict between them.

As a result, Wu Feng had not been driven out of Class One by Zhou Yi. However, her eyes were filled with fire whenever she looked at Wen Xiaoshuai. After all, during the competition, he had completely tied her down in a shamelessly persistent manner. She had no idea why he could take such a beating when he usually looked like such a little lamb.

Seeing this, Zhou Huan could not help but worry for Wen Xiaoshuai.

However, Wen Xiaoshuai was completely unaware of Wu Feng's thoughts. Back in class, he was nothing more than a silent lamb.

He generally only erupted from his silence during battle. Usually, he was a bit socially anxious, and only when he was alone with Zhou Huan in their dormitory could he talk big a little.

"All right, that's all for today. Class dismissed." Wang Yan announced the end of the day's lesson from the podium.

The dozens of students in the class immediately began to disperse.

Xiao Xiao dragged Wang Qingya away, while Wen Xiaoshuai had something to do today and left first as well.

However, when Zhou Huan saw Little Fire Dragon Wu Feng following after him, she was probably going to challenge Wen Xiaoshuai to a fight. Zhou Huan could only silently pray for his roommate.

"Zhou Huan, are you going to the library today?" Wang Yan did not leave immediately. Instead, he walked over to Zhou Huan.

"Not today. We just finished the competition, so I'll rest for a day or two first," Zhou Huan replied.

In truth, over the past three months, Zhou Huan had already read every book on Martial Souls on the first floor of the Outer Courtyard Library. Unfortunately, he still had not found the slightest information about the Floating Pagoda.

He had even indirectly asked Wang Yan about the characteristics of the Floating Pagoda while chatting with him, hoping to see whether such a Martial Soul had ever existed in history.

Unfortunately, Wang Yan did not know.

Of course, even if he could not find any information about the Floating Pagoda for the time being, Zhou Huan still needed to visit the library. After all, knowledge was power, and learning more never hurt.

However, Zhou Huan truly did not want to go to the library today. It was not because he was tired after the competition; he simply wanted to take a break.

Wang Yan clearly understood him as well. "Mm, balancing work and rest is important. If you come up with any interesting ideas, remember to discuss them with me."

Zhou Huan nodded. "All right."

After that, Wang Yan left.

Zhou Huan also walked out of the classroom and came beneath the shade of a tree by Sea God Lake.

It was quiet here, and the scenery was beautiful. It was his favorite place in Shrek.

Whenever he had free time, Zhou Huan liked coming here to relax.

He did not need to do anything. He simply sat quietly against the tree and let his thoughts drift away.

Before long, Zhou Huan suddenly sensed someone beside him. He abruptly opened his eyes, only to see that familiar gentle face and pale blue dress.

Who else could it be but Zhang Lexuan?

Zhou Huan immediately broke into a smile. "Sister Le Xuan, when did you get here?"

"I happened to see you while I was heading out." Zhang Lexuan's voice remained gentle as water. "Congratulations on taking third place in the competition."

"It was all right," Zhou Huan said sheepishly. "But compared to you, Sister Le Xuan, I'm still far behind. I heard that when you were in the Outer Court, you were a legendary figure who was invincible throughout the entire Outer Court."

"...You've heard quite a lot." Zhang Lexuan frankly admitted it. Forget students of the same year—even those several years above her had not been enough to fight her, because her cultivation speed had simply been too fast.

Furthermore, after her family had just been destroyed and everyone close to her had died, she had been in an awful mood. So when she fought, she had actually been incredibly fierce.

It was only as time passed that her state of mind changed. Fourteen years had turned her into the gentle Senior Disciple Sister admired by everyone in the Inner Court.

Back when she was in the Outer Court, she had not been gentle at all. It was merely that once her strength far surpassed that of her peers, no one dared to challenge her anymore.

Hearing Zhou Huan mention her past now, Zhang Lexuan could not help feeling a little sentimental.

"Oh, right. Sister Le Xuan, you said you were heading out just now? Are you going outside Shrek?" Zhou Huan asked.

"Mm." Zhang Lexuan nodded slightly. "I have something to take care of outside, but it isn't that urgent."

Zhou Huan guessed that it was probably some Inner Court inspection mission. As the Inner Court's Senior Disciple Sister, Zhang Lexuan could not possibly stay on Sea God Island all the time.

So Zhou Huan did not ask any further questions. Instead, he said seriously, "Be careful when you're out there. Things aren't peaceful outside."

Zhang Lexuan could not help smiling at that. "A two-ring Great Soul Master like you is worrying about me now? I know you must have been through quite a lot, but this isn't my first time going out."

After a brief pause, Zhang Lexuan added, "Still, thank you for your concern."

Zhou Huan smiled. "Only natural."

Zhang Lexuan was speechless. What did he mean, only natural?

"Oh, right. Sister Le Xuan, help me melt this." Zhou Huan suddenly remembered his Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly and took it out. Good heavens, several months had passed, and he had nearly forgotten about it again. Life in Shrek was simply too safe.

"This is... Whale Rubber? The quality doesn't seem very good." Zhang Lexuan picked up the blackish-gray chunk of Whale Rubber from Zhou Huan's hand.

"This isn't poor-quality Whale Rubber. It's Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly," Zhou Huan replied. "I just got lucky and found a bargain."

Surprise flashed through Zhang Lexuan's eyes. "Something like that happened?"

Immediately afterward, Zhang Lexuan began circulating her Soul Power. White light flickered continuously in her hand, and a few seconds later, a Dark Gold Liquid wrapped in pure white Soul Power appeared above her jade-like palm.

Sure enough, as long as one was strong enough, melting a mere piece of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly did not necessarily require a fire-attribute Soul Master.

Zhang Lexuan looked at Zhou Huan with some curiosity. "Looks like your trips to the library weren't for nothing."

She then brought the Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly Liquid before Zhou Huan and said, "Take it now. I'll stand guard for you, so it doesn't solidify again after too long."

"All right."

Zhou Huan did not stand on ceremony. He slowly ate the Dark Gold Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly Liquid bit by bit, then sat down and began circulating his Soul Power to refine the Whale Jelly.

Faint Warm Currents continuously nourished every meridian in Zhou Huan's body. He felt incomparably comfortable, while his Soul Power steadily increased.

Unlike Huo Gua when he consumed Whale Rubber, Zhou Huan knew the effects of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly. Therefore, as he consumed it, he carefully activated his Frost Spirit at the same time. While slowly absorbing and refining the Whale Jelly Liquid, he used icy energy to regulate his body.

That kept him from ending up in Huo Gua's awkward situation.

Although Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly worked even better when paired with Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire, Zhou Huan did not want to die. He certainly would not do such a thing when he clearly knew the consequences.

About half an hour passed before Zhou Huan finally refined the Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly.

Of course, the nourishing effects of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly would not fully manifest in an instant. Rather, they would gradually take effect over time.

As for his Soul Power, the increase was not particularly great. He had merely broken through from the peak of Rank Twenty-Eight to the middle-to-late stage of Rank Twenty-Nine.

However, Zhou Huan believed that with the nourishment from the Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly, he would break through Rank Twenty-Nine and reach Rank Thirty within a month at most.

Naturally, in Zhang Lexuan's eyes, Zhou Huan had merely advanced from Rank Twenty-Three to Rank Twenty-Four, because she could not discover the effects of the Floating Pagoda just by looking at him.

Moreover, apart from using Soul Power to block off the area within several meters, Zhang Lexuan had not investigated Zhou Huan at all. That would have been extremely impolite.

The only reason she noticed his breakthrough was because his aura had changed slightly as he advanced.

"Thank you, Sister Le Xuan." Zhou Huan stood up and spoke with a broad smile.

"Only natural." Zhang Lexuan blurted it out as if possessed.

Zhou Huan: "..."

So what am I supposed to say now?

Zhou Huan was mortified!

He seemed to understand a little of how Zhang Lexuan had felt just now.

However, Zhang Lexuan clearly did not give him more time to think about what to say. She continued, "I'm leaving. See you when I return. Cultivate properly."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhang Lexuan transformed into a streak of light and vanished from the shore of Sea God Lake once again.

Sigh, she always left so stylishly!

She truly waved her sleeve without taking away a single cloud!

Jealous.JPG.

But from the sound of that tone, why did it feel a little like a teacher calling on him to "study hard"?

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